Alan Jones' return to television in doubt as Chris Smith replaces the veteran broadcaster on ADH-TV amid sex abuse allegations and heath woes READ MORE: Alan Jones resurfaces to reveal alarming physical deterioration - as he refutes historical allegations of indecent assault By Marta Jary For Daily Mail Australia Published: 10:44, 13 August 2024 | Updated: 10:50, 13 August 2024 e-mail View comments Alan Jones' return to television appears to have been delayed after Chris Smith took the veteran broadcaster's slot on digital network ADH-TV. Chris Smith Tonight debuted on Monday in the space formerly held by Jones on the network. New episodes are expected Monday through Thursday weekly, with Jones' former colleague Smith at the helm.
The radio star, who has long planned a return to the airwaves, has kept a low profile in recent months as he struggles with health issues and assault allegations. In March, friends revealed Jones 'is an absolutely broken man' left 'completely devastated' by historical allegations of indecent assault which he denies . The 83-year-old ended months of silence in March, when he released a video detailing the serious health problems which had delayed his scheduled return to his online news channel.
Jones defiantly vowed to eventually resume his broadcasting career after returning to Australia from the UK. However Jones' close supporters said it was not just his physical issues, but the mental trauma inflicted by the indecent assault claims which had accounted for his public absence. Alan Jones' return to television appears to have been delayed after Chris Smith took the veteran broadcaster's slot on digital network ADH-TV.
Jones is pictured In the wake of a series of stories in Nine Newspapers in December alleging he preyed on young men during his lengthy career, Jones held talks with his confidantes at his luxury apartment in the 'Toaster' building at Sydney 's Circular Quay. The allegations were described as 'demonstrably false' by Jones' lawyers and he has not been charged over them. The former king of Sydney talkback radio took off for London soon after the allegations were published; a trip Jones said on Sunday had long been planned to celebrate his godson's 21st birthday and take in some West End shows.
A close friend said Jones needed the break, as he 'was really struggling to bounce back from his latest health battles'. The friend said Jones, who has undergone several back and neck operations, 'was taking much longer than anticipated to recover from surgery, his health had rapidly deteriorated and he was 'basically just getting old'. Chris Smith Tonight (pictured) debuted on Monday in the space formerly held by Jones on the network.
New episodes are expected Monday through Thursday weekly Now that he has returned from London, Jones announced his plans to get back behind the microphone have been delayed by a further wave of health concerns. In the video released in March, he reiterated his denial of the Nine allegations and said the reason for his absence from Australia was not what had been suggested in the media. 'I'm not going to dwell here on the allegations made about me other than I refute them entirely and the inferences associated with them,' Jones said.
'But the "Get-Jones" campaign is nothing new in my life.' The former Wallabies rugby union and rugby league coach said the timing of his trip to London was entirely coincidental with the publication of the allegations. He said he went to England as part of a longstanding promise to his 21-year-old godson to see the 'best of London's West End theatres'.
Jones denied he was in London to 'seek help' from Jake Thrupp - the co-founder of Jones' broadcast channel ADH TV. The radio veteran, who plans a return to the airwaves, has kept a low profile in recent months as he struggles with health issues Read More Alan Jones denies he's selling $20M three-bedroom apartment in Sydney despite 'secret viewings' Thrupp is studying at King's College in the UK with financial support from Jones, but the broadcaster said his protégé was in Bali on holiday for most of the time he was in London. He had intended to get back on air, via online platform ADH TV, in February however health issues had thrown a spanner in the works.
'I have every intention of returning to broadcasting eventually, it is what I do,' Jones said. 'My work has been my life. I could have retired but as I've often said "if you stop, you drop.
"' But Jones, who had been seen walking with the aid of a cane in recent times, said that he had been putting off surgery for some time due to public commitments but had been told he now urgently needed to address the issues which are causing 'traumatic pain'. Jones made a rare public appearance in July, attending a dinner to celebrate Matt Canavan's 10th anniversary in the Senate at The Paddock restaurant in Queensland (pictured) The pain was such that it required a home visit by his doctor who 'recommended medication and appropriate medical intervention'. The doctor advised Jones to stop working immediately until his health issues had been addressed.
'I have suffered no mental ageing, but I am living with two choices - constant pain where painkillers become totally ineffective,' Jones said. 'Or powerful medication with side effects including loss of agility and movement and erratic sleep.' Jones made a rare public appearance in July, attending a dinner to celebrate Matt Canavan's 10th anniversary in the Senate at The Paddock restaurant in Queensland .
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