Tom Ballard quits Triple J breakfast with Alex Dyson Tom Ballard to leave Triple J. Photo: Scott Dougherty Tom Ballard, one half of Triple J's Tom & Alex breakfast team, has announced he is leaving the station at the end of the year. Ballard, along with co-host Alex Dyson, has been a constant across the Triple J network since 2010. He was the winner of the best newcomer award at the 2009 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and plans to focus on his stand-up career in the future. In a blog post on the pair's ABC website, he wrote: For the past four years I've been paid to wake up with one of my best friends in the whole world, talk shit, wear Zentai suits, laugh at my dad, drink instant coffee and play good music. It's been the sweetest of gigs, but I feel like now's the right time for me to try new things, focus on my highbrow and searing stand up (i.e. dick jokes) and endeavour to annoy Australia via other mediums.  It was also revealed that a new co-host will be announced on Tuesday, December 3, as Dyson will continue his role with the network. The pair are currently nominated for the best comedy release ARIA award for their Tom & Alex: The Bits We're Least Ashamed Of. Triple J released a statement saying: "We're incredibly proud of Tom and it's with our full support that he heads off to focus on his comedy career full time. We wish him all the best and look forward to seeing his continued success. The reaction on social media was swift as fans voiced their sadness and farewells to the 24-year-old. More than 2000 fans reacted to his Facebook post: "Thanks for everything, I feel extraordinarily lucky and I love you all very much." The pair's last show together will be Friday, December 13, and will be broadcast live from The Metro in Sydney, with "lots of familiar faces and friends of the show" as well as a live edition of Like a Version.