In this second part of the Kelly & Company origin story, Kelly MacDonald takes us deeper into the decisions and challenges that shaped the show’s early days. Back in 2016, AMI’s leadership, including John Melville and David Errington, saw an opportunity to build on the success of the morning show by launching a new afternoon program—and Kelly had a major decision to make.

After years of balancing television work and radio aspirations, Kelly was given the chance to co-host full-time and help shape a brand-new show. But making the leap meant a complete career shift, a new daily commute, and stepping into the world of live talk radio—something he had never formally trained for.

From initial brainstorming sessions with Kevin Philip-Apilé and Matt Agnew to defining the show’s focus on lifestyle, health, leisure, and entertainment, this episode walks through the building blocks that turned Kelly & Company from an idea into a reality on October 31, 2016. With legendary guests like Jerry Howarth and John Rafferty kicking off the first episode, the show quickly took on a life of its own.

In the next Vanity Card, Kelly will explore how Kelly & Company evolved into the show we know today and what it took to grow its foundation. Stay tuned!

Find Kelly & Company on YouTube!

About AMI

AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.

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