After 26 glorious years steering 702 ABC Radio Sydney’s Drive program, esteemed presenter, journalist and author Richard Glover has announced he’s stepping away from the mic.
Glover began hosting Drive on 702 ABC Radio Sydney in 1998 and quickly became one of Sydney’s favourite presenters to accompany them home.
His program has grown to be an eclectic mix of humour, news, pop culture, politics, and anything else Glover dreams up.
In 1998 he started his popular Thank God It’s Friday program before adding a live studio audience to the show in 2009. TGIF has become a hilarious bookend to the work week and is beloved by his loyal audience for its humour, special guests and anything can happen style.
In December 2011 Richard and Peter FitzSimons achieved a record for the world’s longest radio interview, supervised by Guinness World Records at the ABC Ultimo Studios.
Glover first joined the ABC in 1996, presenting Mornings and before that worked at the Sydney Morning Herald, where he was Arts Editor, News Editor and European Correspondent. He’s also been nominated for three Walkley Awards – two for print, and one for radio.
He is the author of a number of books, including the memoir Flesh Wounds and the bestseller The Land Before Avocado.
Of the decision to leave Glover said: “It’s been a tough decision, but I’ve decided to leave the ABC Radio Sydney Drive show after 26 years, finishing at the end of November. It’s one of the best jobs in Australian journalism, and I feel I’ve hogged it for long enough. It has a terrific audience – funny, wise, full of intellect but also willing to share some of the deeper stories of being human. The program also offers the chance to do anything. Every afternoon we have politics, literature, music and comedy, all jockeying for position.”
Of what’s next, Glover said: “Sometime in the future, there may be new opportunities for me at the ABC, but in the short-term I plan to keep writing my column for the Sydney Morning Herald, attempt another book and dote over my three grandchildren. I also plan to get my knees done (after years of boring my listeners with my problems.)”
“I’ll miss the listeners, of course, but also my fabulous colleagues at 702 ABC Radio Sydney – radio’s best team.”
ABC Managing Director David Anderson said: “Richard is a once in a generation broadcaster who manages to strike the balance between news and politics and just having a really good yarn on radio.”
“I would like to thank Richard for giving so much of himself to his program. He has been an intrinsic part of 702 ABC Radio Sydney for more than 25 years and he will be missed by his colleagues and his audience in equal measure.”
Glover’s final program will be a Thank God It’s Friday spectacular on November 29 featuring Wendy Harmer, Tommy Dean and Tahir, with music from The Backsliders.
Details of ticketing for Richard’s last TGIF will be announced on the show in coming weeks.