Steve Price has hit back at “rubbish” reports peddling a “conspiracy theory” that Channel Nine bosses are in control of his program.

News Limited papers have printed multiple stories in recent weeks, based on anonymous ‘insider’ reports.

The latest piece came after Steve Price replaced Alan Jones who was off sick last week, with Deborah Knight and Karl Stefanovic filling in on The Steve Price Show in afternoons.

The column claims “the instruction came down the line from new owner Nine to fill the void with a roster of its TV talent”.

However, both Knight and Stefanovic have hosted programs on 2GB since well before the Nine/Fairfax merger in late 2018, as part of the station’s stable of accomplished replacement presenters.

Knight has filled-in for a number of years when presenters are on leave, while Stefanovic first made his 2GB debut in 2015, hosting Drive while Ben Fordham was on holidays.

Steve Price revealed no attempt was made to contact him before the story was published.

“Some people at News [Limited], who never actually ring to ask if anything they write is true or not and continue to publish unnamed sources talking about people on this program.

“According to News [Limited], someone at Channel Nine is telling me who to feature on the afternoon show.

“It’s a nice little conspiracy theory folks but if the people writing this rubbish took the time to call, I’d explain it to them.”

Steve detailed exactly how his show line-up was formulated, revealing Channel Nine had no input.

“Since the takeover of Fairfax by Channel Nine, I have never spoken, not once, to anybody [in management] from that TV network. No one.

“I’ve never spoken to the people in charge of News and Current Affairs at Channel Nine, or anybody in management. Nobody!

“It was my idea to see if Karl Stefanovic wanted to join us once a week, because he’s got a high profile.”

Just to set the record straight – I’ve been doing fill in radio shifts for years; 2UE, @abcsydney, @2GB873 and @NewsTalk4BC. I haven’t been wheeled out because of Nine’s commercial links to Macquarie – this is work I’ve been doing for over a decade.

— deborah knight (@deborah_knight) August 5, 2019

Deborah Knight even felt the need to “set the record straight”, pointing out that she’s been doing fill-in radio shifts “for over a decade”.

Steve Price says claims otherwise are “an insult” to some very hard-working and capable colleagues.

“To try and suggest this is some sort of Channel Nine push to hijack this program is an insult to the talents of the people I’ve just mentioned.”

Click PLAY below to hear Steve’s comments in full