Martin/Molloy: Tum and Phul by Tony Martin and Mick Molloy

The Martin/Molloy program – named for its star comedians, Tony Martin and Mick Molloy – ran on Australian radio from 1995–98. 

This sketch features New Zealand-born Tony Martin voicing recurring characters 'Tum and Phul', two breakfast show radio hosts from across the Tasman whose 'choice' patter includes a preponderance of words with a flattened 'i' sound.

Produced at Austereo's Fox FM in Melbourne, Martin/Molloy was broadcast live on up to 54 radio stations across Australia during this time. The fast-paced, sketch-based format had previously been restricted to breakfast radio; the idea of such a show working in late afternoons (4–6pm weekdays) seemed far-fetched to some radio insiders. 

However, Martin/Molloy was a ratings success, and quickly grew from being broadcast only on Austereo's metropolitan stations to airing around Australia. Martin/Molloy spawned three ARIA award-winning albums: The Brown Album (1995), Poop Chute (1996) and Eat Your Peas (1998). 

An entire generation of drivetime radio comedy-talk shows followed and this format remains the backbone of the major commercial FM networks in Australia to this day. Tony Martin gifted the original recordings of Martin/Molloy to the NFSA in 2013.   

Image: Tony Martin and Mick Molloy. Publicity still, 1998.