Hughesy and Kate have worked together for 18 years. Now she's taking a break.

The 18 year ‘Hughesy & Kate’ partnership is taking a hiatus, with Dave Hughes confirming the news on the pair’s HitFM drive show yesterday while introducing his new co-host.

“Kate Langbroek will be making regular appearances on the show, but right now she is on her way to Sicily,” he told listeners.

Kate relocated to Bologna, Italy, with her husband and four kids in January, and had been continuing to co-host the show (despite the time difference) from a home studio.

Watch: In the lift with Dave Hughes. Post continues after video.

But now she’s decided to step away from the mic until 2020.

Dave’s new co-host is none other than axed 2Day FM breakfast star comedian Ed Kavalee, who joined Hughsey for the first time on the airwaves on Monday, just three days after the shock canning of his show.

“Welcome! You’re going to be hanging out with us until the end of the year buddy,” Dave said as he introduced Ed Kavalee to the listeners.

“Thank you guys. It’s great to be here. I’m very excited,” Ed responded.

The Hit Network’s head of content Gemma Fordham confirmed Kate's decision to step away on Sunday telling TV Blackbox: "Kate is absolutely part of the show! It's simply in less capacity whilst she has a planned sabbatical with her family.

"We certainly look forward to welcoming her back full time on her return and in the interim she is doing segments in the show a few times a week."

Kate and Hughsey first joined forces in 2001 as co-hosts with Dave O'Neil on Nova 100's breakfast show, before jumping to KIIS FM the following year.

In 2017, they replaced Hamish Blake and Andy Lee's show Hamish & Andy as the Hit Network's drive time slot where they remain today.

 

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ITS SHOW TIME! We’re LIVE from Bologna! @dhughesy @katelangbroek @jkontheradio #SpicyMeatballTour ????????????

A post shared by Hughesy and Kate (@hughesyandkate) on Jun 16, 2019 at 11:34pm PDT

Meanwhile, Ed was up for grabs after his gig with Grant Denyer and Ash London was canned on Thursday. It was the sixth failed attempt to fill the 2Day FM breakfast slot after the 2014 defection of Kyle and Jackie O.

Ed, Grant and Ash's show has been replaced by a 'music only' program hosted by Jaime Angel.

Kate's "gap year" from Melbourne to Italy was sparked in part by her eldest son's battle with leukaemia.

In an interview with Stellar magazine she said, "[Our son] Lewis was very sick when he was little and he could've died."

"Maybe that makes you feel differently about the opportunities you have in life, and the biggest opportunity is the life itself that you have,” she said.

"I would urge anyone who has the tiniest chink of opportunity to put a spanner in there and prise it in there, to make it happen. We have no regrets at this point."

Hughesy even travelled to Italy to meet his co-host for a tour, with Kate enjoying showing her friend around her new hometown of Bologna.

 

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Welcome to bologna... @hughesyandkate #spicymeatballtour ❤️????????????

A post shared by Kate Langbroek (@katelangbroek) on Jun 17, 2019 at 1:26pm PDT

So what's Kate going to be doing for the rest of the year?

Speaking to Stellar Kate gave readers an insight into her new reality; "Life revolves around having something nice to eat, having a rest, enjoying what you’re doing, your family, and enjoying the beauty around you. That’s really it."