Four times the charm for Turnbull, Jones

Such is the power of Alan Jones that he can rouse a prime minister from his sleep.

Or so it appeared when Malcolm Turnbull and the radio broadcaster returned for their weekly chat on Wednesday.

But with a two-hour time difference - Mr Turnbull was in Perth, Jones in Sydney - it meant the prime minister was up at 5am for the interview.

The radio broadcaster - whose show commands a hefty audience - kicked off their fourth chat since a thawing of their once-testy relationship with a joke.

A chummy, elbow-nudge of sorts.

"We've got the prime minister out of bed!" Jones laughed.

"Good morning Alan," Mr Turnbull replied.

"I'm operating on eastern time so I'm quite awake."

That prompted a mighty chuckle from Jones.

"Stop pretending will you, stop pretending!"

The pair then launched into the day's topics: an anti-gay Islamic cleric, superannuation, land taxes, preference deals, defence base contamination and the Victorian firefighter stoush.