Radio Industry News

The ABC received five gongs, including Podcast of the Year, at the 2024 Australian Podcast Awards overnight which celebrates the nation’s best podcasts and creators.

Ladies, We Need To Talk, presented by Yumi Stynes, took out the Grand Prix Podcast of the Year and the Sex and Relationships category award. The highest honour award recognises outstanding presentation, original research / writing, sound design and boundary-pushing material that showcases the very best of what Australian podcasting can achieve.

Presented by Yumi Stynes, Ladies, We Need To Talk also beat a strong shortlist including stablemate triple j’s The Hook Up to take home the category prize.

Myf Warhurst and Zan Rowe, two of Australia’s most respected and most loved music journalists and presenters won the Best Host(s) category for their audio offering Double J’s Bang On where they debrief about music, art, life and stuff.

Unravel Firebomb about Chinese restaurants being firebombed in Perth in the 1980’s took out the stiff competition, including ABC’s Stop and Search and Mamamia’s True Crime Conversations, to win the True Crime category award.

The ABC was also successful in the Kids category winning the award for Play School: Ears On, audio adventures made for the broadcaster’s littlest listeners.

ABC Director Audio, Ben Latimer said: “The ABC continues to deliver creative and innovative content for our listeners across all ages in the podcast space.  To be recognised at these awards demonstrates the high-quality podcasts and storytelling the ABC delivers to Australian listeners.”

You can find all of the ABC’s podcasts, including radio, music and audiobooks, free on ABC listen.

Triple M has bolstered its cricket commentary lineup for the first Test between Australia and India, with cricket royalty Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, and Aaron Finch joining the call. With more than 675 international matches between them, these cricketing legends bring unrivalled expertise and insights to guide cricket fans through every ball, wicket, and boundary.

As India and Australia prepare to clash in a historic five-Test series — the first on Australian soil — Triple M cements its place as the home of cricket with a commentary lineup that is every cricket fan’s dream. Joining Johnson, Lee, and Finch in commentary are some of the biggest names in the game, including Mark Taylor AO, James Brayshaw, Mark Howard, Merv Hughes, Greg Blewett, Mark Waugh AM, Brad Haddin, Callum Ferguson, and Isabelle Westbury. International cricket royalty Lord Ian Botham OBE and Triple M’s Dan Ginnane and Jack Heverin complete this incredible lineup.

This summer kicks off the Triple M Network’s new seven-year agreement, securing exclusive FM metro broadcast, digital audio, and DAB+ rights. Cricket enthusiasts can catch all Australian men’s international games, including Tests, ODIs, and T20s, along with the women’s T20 internationals against England, live on Triple M and LiSTNR.

SCA Head of Sports Content, Ewan Giles, said: “It doesn’t get much bigger than Johnson, Lee, and Finch joining our iconic lineup. These cricket greats add another layer of expertise and energy to one of the most accomplished commentary teams Triple M has ever assembled. Whether fans are at the beach, on the road, or playing backyard cricket, Triple M is their ultimate cricket companion this summer.”

The first five-day Test begins today, Friday, 22 November, as the Australian men’s team takes on India at Optus Stadium, Perth, setting the stage for a thrilling series opener in the battle for the coveted Border–Gavaskar Trophy.

Don’t miss a moment as Triple M Rocks Cricket, live across the metro Triple M network and streaming on LiSTNR. Download the LiSTNR app and sign up for free to catch every ball, wicket, and boundary.

About Triple M:
For more than 40 years, Triple M continues to be one of Australia’s best-known radio entertainment brands and the only radio network that provides its listeners with a unique combination of Rock’s Greatest Hits, Sport and Comedy. With 49 stations across Australia, including DAB+ stations, Triple M 80s, Triple M 90s, Triple M 2000s, Triple M Almost Acoustic, Triple M Classic Rock and Triple M Country, Triple M has become known for playing the greatest hits, good times and its iconic talent and shows that get people talking.

The ABC achieved strong results across platforms in 2024, including:

• ABC iview was #1 BVOD choice for on-demand programming
• ABC NEWS was Australia’s #1 digital news brand in September
• ABC Radio is Australia’s #1 digital live streaming network

In 2025 Australian audiences can look forward to even more innovative world class content across ABC TV, ABC NEWS, ABC iview and ABC listen with a line-up unparalleled in its breadth and diversity.

Chief Content Officer Chris Oliver-Taylor: “As the largest commissioner of Australian content we’re thrilled to share our 2025 slate, including 23 new titles across all genres. Audiences will see original premium homegrown drama, a comedy slate that delivers some of our country’s biggest hits, children’s content that connects with kids not only in Australia but all over the world, impactful factual programming and documentaries that resonate with Australians in the city and country. Our unrivalled arts coverage includes six primetime series in 2025 complementing live music events, Mardi Gras and New Year’s Eve celebrations that bring Australians together. The ABC is the home of Australian content in 2025.”

Director, Audio Ben Latimer: “In 2025 ABC Local Radio stations will remain the true pulse of the cities they serve. With a mix of new hosts and returning favourites, our Local Network will continue to connect deeply with the unique character and personality of each city, reflecting what matters most to their communities. ABC Radio National is reaffirming its role as Australia’s premier audio gateway, offering audiences a window into the rich tapestry of intellectual and creative life in this country. Next year, triple j will celebrate an extraordinary milestone — 50 years as Australia’s most influential and impactful music network. In the on-demand space, our market-leading podcast slate will continue to provide distinctive, high-quality audio content, while our ABC listen platform evolves to become more personalised — delivering the content our audiences want, whenever and wherever they want it.”

Director, News Justin Stevens: “The role of ABC NEWS in delivering news and information people know they can trust is becoming increasingly important and will be vital in a federal election year. This year we saw huge audiences for our award-winning journalism and in 2025 we’ll offer even more to all Australians across all platforms, from returning flagship brands to fresh content initiatives, news breaking investigations and essential emergency broadcasting when people need us most.”

ABC 2025 Upfronts announce highlights include:

SCREEN – SCRIPTED

The ABC’s scripted slate continues to be broad, diverse and world class in 2025.

Based on bestselling Australian author Sally Hepworth’s novel of the same name, The Family Next Door  tells the story of enigmatic Isabelle (Teresa Palmer), who moves into a small seaside cul-de-sac where her obsessive drive to solve a mystery casts suspicion on four neighbouring families.

Jenna Owen, Vic Zerbst and Charles Firth are the masters of spin in new six-part comedy series Optics which premieres Wednesday 29 January on ABC TV and ABC iview.

The critically acclaimed and multi-award-winning Mystery Road: Origin returns for a second season continuing to delve into the early years of Detective Jay Swan (Mark Coles Smith).

Unmissable favourites Bay of Fires, Austin and Mother and Son all return for second seasons in 2025, with Return to Paradise also in development and planned to return in 2025. The multi award winning The Newsreader will return for season three on Sunday 2 February on ABC TV and ABC iview.

SCREEN – ENTERTAINMENT 

From satire to panel shows and stand-up comedy, a plethora of ABC favourites return for 2025.

Hands on buzzers for the return of crowd-drawing hits Spicks & Specks, Guy Montgomery’s Spelling Bee and Hard Quiz. The laughs and good times keep coming with more Gruen, The Weekly with Charlie Pickering and Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

2025 will see Costa and the team unearth more tips in Gardening Australia while Offsiders unpacks the sporting news of the week. New favourites Shaun Micallef’s Eve of Destruction and A Bite To Eat with Alice are in development to return.

ABC is proud to support emerging voices through the Fresh Blood initiative with Screen Australia which will see three debut projects hit screens in 2025 – Going Under, Urvi Went to an All Girls School and Westerners. Our joint initiative with Screen Australia continues to be the ABC’s launchpad for the careers of some of Australia’s best comedy writers, directors, and performers. People like Aunty Donna, Greta Lee, Adele Vuko, Nina Oyama and Angus Thompson to name a few.

SCREEN – DOCUMENTARY & SPECIALIST

In 2025, the ABC will continue to deliver compelling documentary, specialist, science and natural history content.

Groundbreaking series The Role of a Lifetime sees Amanda Keller and an ensemble of comedians explore parenting dilemmas alongside sketches featuring Kate Ritchie and Nazeem Hussain.

Dr Ann Jones gets up close and personal with some of the most reclusive creatures on the planet in Dr Ann Secret Lives. Explore Western Australia’s natural history in new documentaries Orca: Australia’s Megapod and The Kimberley, and Miriam Margolyes embarks on a long-awaited adventure to New Zealand in Miriam Margolyes: Made in NZ.

Curious minds will delight on Tuesday 7 January on ABC TV and ABC iview when Tony Armstrong explores a radical culinary solution to the invasive plants and animals attacking Australia’s unique biodiversity in Eat The Invaders and Dr Karl steps behind factory doors to see how products are made in Dr Karl’s How Things Work.

Tony Armstrong is on a mission to find global solutions to the rising tide of racism in Australian sport and inspire lasting change in End Game. And new ABC Indigenous original format, Hear Me Out will tackle the often contentious discussion surrounding Australia Day from a First Nations point of view.

On Sunday 2 February on ABC TV and ABC iview, audiences will fall in love with a new litter of puppies as Muster Dogs returns for season three. There will be a twist on the experiment to see who will be crowned Champion. This time both Kelpies and Collies put to the test.

Audience favourites I Was Actually There, The Assembly, Grand Designs Australia, Restoration Australia, Back Roads, Landline and Compass all return for new seasons.

And Annabel Crabb and the team that brought you Kitchen Cabinet and Ms Represented are in development, with a new series investigating the barely-believable true story of how Australia’s globally unique voting system came to be.

SCREEN – MUSIC, ARTS & EVENTS

The ABC continues to be the home of compelling Arts, Music and Live Events content in 2025.

Exciting new series The Piano sees everyday pianists take on the opportunity of a lifetime, guided by renowned expert musicians Harry Connick Jr and Andrea Lam.

Acclaimed art lover and actor Rachel Griffiths will return to the ABC with When the War is Over to deep dive into how art has helped shape our attitude to wars.

In Portrait Artist Of The Year, artists from across Australia will compete in a battle of creative skill, as they complete portraits of famous sitters.

More artistic stories will be celebrated in new seasons of Creative Types with Virginia Trioli, The Art Of with Namila Benson, Take 5 with Zan Rowe and Rage.

Spend an enchanting Christmas with Australia’s finest musical theatre talent as they grace the stage with the sounds of the festive season for A (Very) Musical Christmas on Friday 20 December on ABC TV and ABC iview.

ABC is proud to again host the biggest events that unite the country with Australian of the Year, Australia Day Live Concert, ANZAC Day, New Year’s Eve, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, NAIDOC and the Classic 100 Concert.

SCREEN – CHILDREN and FAMILY

The ABC continues to be the #1 Network for Australian children.

Multi-talented Andy Lee brings his best-selling book series to life in the new animated series Do Not Watch This Show.

New preschool series, Knee High Spies combines live-action and puppetry and get ready to see our trusted Heeler family like you’ve never seen them before, as they’re brought to real life in a recording of their live show Bluey’s Big Play. 

Summer holiday viewing kicks off with new Kangaroo Beach splashing onto screens on Boxing Day and Gardening Australia Junior on New Years Day. Beautiful and soothing animation Piki Lullaby with Christine Anu will be available from 13 January on ABC Family and ABC iview.

Returning favourites include Space Nova, Fizzy & Suds, Good Game Spawn Point and Good Game Spawn Squad, Hard Quiz Kids and Play School. Plus Teenage Boss: Next Level is in development to return.

SCREEN – ACQUISITIONS

The commissioned slate continues to be complemented by a suite of acquisitions in 2025.

We will farewell hit crime drama Vera as the series concludes with two epic films combining murderous intrigue with heart and soul.

Titles Walking with Dinosaurs, Bergerac, Douglas is Cancelled, Until I Kill You, The One That Got Away and Darby and Joan will also hit screens.

NEWS

Australia’s most trusted news organisation, ABC NEWS continues to bring viewers agenda-setting journalism and analysis, in-depth investigations, compelling storytelling and essential information across our digital and broadcast platforms. Returning flagship TV programs in 2025 include ABC News Breakfast, Insiders, 7.30, Australian Story – next year with six more episodes, Four Corners, Q+A, Foreign Correspondent – in a new timeslot of 8.00pm Tuesday, Planet America, BTN and Afternoon Briefing with new host Patricia Karvelas. Also returning are audio flagships AM, PM, Radio National Breakfast with new host Sally Sara and The World Today with new host Andy Park. And Fran Kelly will be presenting new program The Radio National Hour.

MEDIA WATCH

It’s the show everybody loves … until they’re on it. Media Watch returns next year with a new host and a new look. Sitting in the hot seat will be Linton Besser, an investigative reporter and former foreign correspondent who will be picking up the mantle from Paul Barry, who ends a stellar 11-year run.

AUDIO – triple j

Next year will see triple j celebrate an incredible 50 years as Australia’s most impactful music network. Like A Version is heading across international waters, with a special run of performances recorded overseas, and One Night Stand makes another regional town a live music capital for one unforgettable night.

AUDIO – Radio National

Wake up with award-winning journalist Sally Sara hosting Breakfast. Bookend your day with the return of Fran Kelly hosting a new daily 6pm program The Radio National Hour. Join Marc Fennell on an adventure through history with his new program complimented by a new umbrella feed for history content. Media hound Tim Burrowes will host a new program, MediaLand.

AUDIO – Local

Taking the wheel on 702 ABC Radio Sydney Drive is Chris Bath. In Melbourne, our new Breakfast duo of Bob Murphy and Sharnelle Vella are ready to hit the ground running and Brigitte Duclos is joining us to host Afternoons. Ellen Fanning will host Drive in Brisbane with legend of the airwaves Gary Adshead taking Drive in Perth. In Adelaide the beloved Spence Denny will return to host Evenings with Rory McLaren the new host of Mornings.

Sport lovers can expect more magic moments across our local radio network in 2025. After a successful return in 2023, the Australian Open will once again be heard on the ABC in January as part of a new five-year agreement for audio rights. The Australian Open 2025 will air on ABC local radio and ABC listen from the 12 – 26 January.

AUDIO – On Demand

When two campers vanished in Victoria’s high country, no one imagined the culprit would be a quiet, diligent pilot from the suburbs. The revelations took a darker turn when it emerged that he’d burned their bodies and concealed their remains. So how did an accomplished airline captain become a killer? Through exclusive interviews, Unravel: Huntsman tells the story of Greg Lynn, uncovering early indicators of a volatile temper and a disturbing capacity for cruelty. Those close to his first wife, Lisa, say the warning signs were there all along.

Also in 2025, Conversations turns 20 and Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski hit the road to celebrate.

Sources

Source: OzTAM VPM data (On Demand), Jan-Oct 2024, ABC iview minutes are underrepresented in March 2024 due to measurement interruptions. 

Source: OzTAM Metro Panel

Source: Ipsos iris Online Audience Measurement Service 

Source: GfK radio ratings

In 2025 a reimagined ABC Radio National will be at the centre of big conversations and create a space where audiences can expand their worldview while engaging with the world’s best thinkers.

Award-winning journalist Sally Sara will lead the day on Radio National Breakfast joined by political correspondent Melissa Clarke, business correspondent Peter Ryan and news presenter Luke Siddham Dundon.

Fran Kelly will make her return to Radio National in a 1-hour weekday evenings program The Radio National Hour from 6-7pm. The program will focus on the big news stories shaping our world.

Fran said: “I’m thrilled to back on Radio National in a bigger way next year.

“This new show is a chance to go deeper into the news of our time, speaking to the best thinkers and creators and opinion shapers every day. And it’s an election year… I can’t wait!”

Current Drive host Andy Park will remain part of the network and become the presenter of flagship current affairs program The World Today.

Joining Fran and Sally on ABC Radio National next year is Nick Bryant as host of Saturday Extra.

ABC Radio National Manager Dina Rosendorff said: “In 2025 ABC Radio National will be at the heart of national and global conversations and reestablish itself as a trusted source of thoughtful analysis and deep thinking.

2025 will see the Network go even further to cultivate a space for profound insight and meaningful conversations with an expanded range of programs and voices across science, technology, the arts, culture, history, religion and set the agenda in current affairs.

“Radio National will cement itself as the ‘go-to’ space where ideas spark, perspectives broaden and inquiring minds find their home.”

The new year sees an emphasis on returning to a live, flow format through the addition of Cassie McCullagh and Hilary Harper as the Voices of Radio National who will thread Radio National’s programming together throughout the day.

Hilary and Cassie will guide audiences through the live schedule across news and current affairs programs into our unmatched range of specialist content.

Program highlights

Also in 2025, Radio National will expand its history offering with new global and Australian historical series and a landmark history show hosted by Australia’s favourite history buff, Marc Fennell.

Richard Glover is leaving the ABC at the end of the year, but his popular show Thank God It’s Friday! will remain, presented by Charlie Pickering and heard on Radio National, ABC Radio Sydney and ABC Radio Melbourne.

The Big Weekend of Books returns in October as ABC Radio National’s Top 100 Books, a countdown in which audiences can vote for their favourite books of the 21^st Century. As always, the event will showcase authors around the world talking about their new releases.

We are adding to our roster of specialist content with some of the brightest minds in their field.

Tim Burrowes and Vivienne Kelly host a new program, MediaLand, examining the media landscape in Australia and abroad.

In news to delight the scientifically minded, Lab Notes, presented by Belinda Smith will cast a lens on fresh scientific discoveries and other things we didn’t know last week – from major breakthroughs to surprising curiosities.

Peter Martin hosts a new business program, The Economy, Stupid, and Jonathan Green sinks his teeth into all things food with Every Bite.

Tegan Taylor becomes the new host of Life Matters with Beverley Wang continuing to present Friday’s talkback program. Dr Preeya Alexander joins Norman Swan on The Health Report.

David Marr continues as host of Late Night Live. Daniel Browning presents Arts in 30 a weekly wrap of what’s happening in the world of art and culture in addition to presenting The Art Show.

Rae Johnston steps in to host Australia’s number one technology podcast Download This Show.

Siobhan Marin will host Quick Smart

Scheduling changes (AEDT)

A new early AM and News Daily at 5.30am

PM moves to 5pm

Late Night Live repeat moves to 3pm

Conversations moves to 4pm

The new Radio National Hour will be heard at 6-7pm

The Music Show will move to 10am on weekends

Radio veteran Brigitte Duclos will spearhead Afternoons on 774 ABC Melbourne in 2025 while Charlie Pickering will help us celebrate the end of the week with a new show on Fridays.

Brigitte promises to bring great interviews and engaging conversations to your afternoon, having had a successful radio career spanning three decades.

“Radio has been a 30-year passion of mine and I am so looking forward to getting back behind the microphone to deliver a show that informs, excites and, most of all, focuses on the topics important to Melbourne,” Brigitte said.

“The ABC listeners are the soul of this city and I look forward to them sharing their stories, struggles and triumphs.”

Current Afternoons presenter Trevor Chappell will return to his role as Overnights presenter in 2025.

Trevor said he had enjoyed presenting Afternoons but was looking forward to reconnecting with his Overnights audience.

“Trev is one of the nicest men in radio and it’s been a pleasure to have him around during the day,” Acting Local Manager Shelley Hadfield said. “His national Overnights audience will be delighted to welcome him back into their nights. We are grateful to Michael Pavlich for being such good company to them during the past 18 months.”

To wrap up the week and celebrate the start of the weekend, Charlie Pickering returns to 774 to host a new show on Fridays from 5-6pm. Thank God It’s Friday (TGIF) will follow Ali Moore’s Drive program, bringing together comedy, music and the week’s news in front of a live audience from our Southbank studios.

In other news, station favourites Jacinta Parsons and Brian Nankervis will get your weekend off to a great start, taking over Saturday morning programs.

Brian will present Saturday Breakfast, with Alice Zaslavsky making the decision to step away from the show next year so she can spend weekends with her daughter.

And, Jacinta will take over Saturday Mornings. Current presenter Matt Preston has announced he will step away from show next month after three years.

“I’ve loved doing what is one of the best jobs in radio, so it has been a tough decision,” Matt said. “I’m so grateful to the people I’ve worked with on the show and the top-level co-hosts that have taught me so much.

“I’ve been lucky enough to interview so many of my heroes both old and new over the journey. And it has been priceless spending time with such an intelligent, passionate and often very funny audience.”

Saturday’s Cat and Matt show, with Matt and Catherine Murphy, will wind up. Catherine will still appear on programs across the station.

Alice Zaslavsky said helping Melbourne wake up every Saturday had been a privilege.

“Though I’ll be stepping away from the show, I won’t be leaving the 774 family,” Alice said. “You can look forward to hearing my voice as ABC’s food guru, as well as the odd cameo back behind the mic.

“Thank you to the Saturday Breakfast regulars – both our guests and our listeners, who have enriched our weekends with worthwhile tidbits. It’s these voices and views that make a show like ours vibrate with vitality.”

Jacinta and Brian will continue presenting The Friday Revue.

Last week, Sammy J revealed he will finish up as Breakfast host next month, with award-winning journalist Sharnelle Vella and Western Bulldogs’ great Bob Murphy set to wake up Melburnians in 2025 with a mix of news, sport, weather and fun.

774 ABC Melbourne is excited by the new line up, which also includes Raf Epstein on Mornings (8.30am-11am), Richelle Hunt on The Conversation Hour (11am-noon), Ali Moore on Drive (3pm-6pm), David Astle on Evenings (6.45pm-10pm) and Lisa Leong on Sundays (10am-noon).

Acting Local Manager Shelley Hadfield said it was hard to say goodbye to much loved presenters and colleagues and she had no doubt they would continue to be regulars on the station.

“We are excited to shake things up with this new line-up and we are confident that it will hold us in good stead to make sure that we remain the voice of Melbourne,” Shelley said.

Brigitte will start presenting Afternoons over the summer break.

Award-winning broadcaster and one of Perth’s most accomplished journalists, Gary Adshead will join ABC Radio Perth from January 2025.

Adshead will host ABC Radio Perth’s Drive program in the new year.

Of the new role, Adshead said: “No matter how long you spend in the media business, there’s always a surprise around the corner.”

“For me to have the chance to speak with, inform and entertain an ABC audience was an opportunity too good to refuse.

“From January, I am determined to bring energy, experience, curiosity, a nose for news and plenty of laughter to the Drive program.”

ABC Radio Perth Manager Danielle Benda said she was absolutely delighted that Gary had decided to join the ABC team.

“Gary has been breaking news stories and asking the hard questions in Perth for more than 35 years. Few people know this city like Gary,” she said.

“He has a formidable reputation as a reporter, with a great ear for a good story, a genuine interest in people as well as a warmth and humour that make him essential listening.

“He will be a brilliant addition to our ABC Radio team as we start the new year.”

Afternoons host Michael Tetlow is returning to the ABC News Channel to present the evening and late national TV bulletins.

“Doing Afternoons has been an absolute blast,” he said.

“But I’ve only ever been on loan to radio and television is my first love. I have missed TV and as decision time drew nearer, I had to make a call.”

Current ABC Radio Perth Drive host Jo Trilling will move to the Afternoons program.

Trilling said she was thrilled to be presenting Afternoons.

“Hosting the Drive program for the past two years has been a great joy and I have loved every minute.

“But Drive is all consuming and I have two young kids who are very excited to have me back at after school sport and I suspect helping cook dinner in the kitchen.

“My driving force has always been to try to help people understand the world a little better and give voice to those without one. I will continue to do that on Afternoons as well as having a heck of a lot of fun! There will be a little more of the thrilling Jo Trilling I dare say.

“I do hope you’ll turn the dial on a little earlier in the arvo, I so look forward to having a chat in 2025.”

About Gary Adshead

The career of investigative journalist, political reporter and broadcaster Gary Adshead has spanned four decades, having started when he was an 18-year-old cadet working for a regional newspaper in New Zealand.

The now 58-year old’s dedication to journalism and storytelling has seen him win more than 20 awards across television, radio and print.

He has been the WA Journalist of the Year on four occasions and in October, added a prestigious Australian Commercial Radio Award to the list for Best Podcast by a Radio Show, which was in recognition of his podcast series The Reporter: True Stories.

Some of Adshead’s most memorable reporting was into the fake medals scandal surrounding fallen politician Barry Urban, which resulted in a police investigation and inquiry by the WA Parliament.

In 1997, he covered the rescue of stricken sailor Tony Bullimore from aboard HMAS Adelaide more than 2000 kilometres south of Albany in the Southern Ocean.

He spent more than two weeks on Christmas Island in 2020, when the first pandemic evacuees arrived from Wuhan, China to be quarantined.

His skillset has developed during newsroom management roles at Channel Seven, as the political editor for The West Australian newspaper and Channel Nine – and as a police and investigative reporter reporting on organised crime.

Adshead has also hosted both the morning and drive-time programs for 6PR as far back as 2003.

He is married to Helen, is the father of two boys, aged 20 and 24, loves sport and non-fiction crime books.

Award winning broadcaster and journalist Ellen Fanning will host ABC Radio Brisbane Drive in 2025.

A Brisbane native, Ellen started her career in commercial radio in 1988.

At 24, she broke new ground, becoming the first woman to host one of ABC’s prestigious national current affairs radio programs, PM.

After two years at the helm of PM she spent several years anchoring AM and serving as occasional host of ABC TV’s 7.30 Report.

Ellen has also served as the ABC’s Washington correspondent and was co-host of The Drum on ABC TV from 2017 until 2023.

“I’m delighted to be joining ABC Radio Brisbane in 2025,” Ellen said.

“After years reporting big national and international stories, I’m thrilled to be back home in Brisbane. I grew up in Brisbane and Logan and made my start in journalism in this city.

“Over the past 25 years, Brisbane has grown and changed. Since moving back here in 2023, I’ve quickly remembered what makes this city and its people tick. I cannot wait to be telling their stories and sharing the news highlights of the day in Drive. Plus, to hear from you on the daily drive home.”

Current Drive host Kelly Higgins-Devine will move back to Evenings in 2025 and Evenings presenter Rebecca Levingston will finish at the end of the year.

Rebecca said: “20 years of ABC radio has been a million different experiences for me. My time on air has been surprising, lifechanging and hilarious.

“I’m so grateful to my listeners and my colleagues for sharing stories that will stay with me forever.

“I’m thrilled to head off on my next adventure.”

ABC Radio Brisbane Local Manager Anthony Frangi said: “We are delighted to welcome Ellen to ABC Radio Brisbane. A formidable journalist and experienced presenter with a resolute passion for what makes Brisbane tick, she will add considerable weight to our line up in 2025.

“I would like to thank Rebecca Levingston for her work on Evenings this year.”

About Ellen Fanning

Ellen Fanning started a career in commercial radio in 1988, after graduating with a communications degree from the Queensland University of Technology. At 24, she broke new ground, becoming the first woman to host one of ABC prestigious national current affairs radio programs. Two years at the helm of PM were followed by several years anchoring AM and serving as occasional host of ABC TV’s 7.30 Report.

Ellen served as the ABC’s Washington correspondent, returning to Australia in 2000 to report for the Nine Network’s 60 Minutes. She was the last presenter of the Nine Network’s prestigious Sunday program and a columnist on legendary The Bulletin magazine.

She has reported from locations as diverse as Transylvania and the North Pole, under the Indian Ocean aboard an Australian Navy submarine and 30,000 feet over Serbia from a US Airforce refuelling jet. She has interviewed every current and former Australian Prime Minister, and has met and interviewed world leaders from France, Britain, Ireland, Israel and the United States.

Fanning wrote and directed a six-part documentary series titled Fine Line for SBS TV in 2002, and in 2013, returned to SBS to host the 20-episode series, The Observer Effect.

In 2014, she returned to the ABC where she has worked for the past decade, presenting Life Matters on ABC Radio National and more recently hosting ABC TV’s national current affairs program, The Drum, a role shared with Julia Baird.

Fanning returned to her home town of Brisbane in 2023. In 2024, she was a recipient of QUT’s Outstanding Alumni Award.

Experienced journalist and broadcaster Chris Bath and presenter and comedian Charlie Pickering will be an integral part of the ABC Radio Sydney line-up in 2025.

Bath is set to take over as Drive presenter in the new year, while Charlie Pickering will present Thank God It’s Friday! it was announced at the ABC Upfronts presentation in Sydney today.

Bath was host of Evenings on ABC Radio Sydney from 2016 to 2019. She has periodically filled in for long-term Drive incumbent Richard Glover, who is departing the role after 26 years, and fittingly was introduced by him at the event.

Bath said she was feeling “excited, daunted, a little bit scared and nervous” about taking over as the Drive presenter.

“I’m still in a bit of disbelief. I always thought that Richard was going to be there forever.

“Every time I sit in that chair, I have a pretty healthy dose of imposter syndrome because I don’t know how anyone could be as good a broadcaster as Richard Glover.”

Bath has spent the majority of her career in television but is looking forward to being on radio full time.

“The thing I love about radio is something that I just don’t think you can create in television and that’s a sense of community that you can actually have live on air.”

Pickering said of his appointment as host of Thank God It’s Friday! “It’s an honour to be trusted with a beloved ABC Radio Sydney program and introduce it to the Melbourne audience on 774 and Australia wide on Radio National.

He reflected on Richard’s legacy “Richard was kind enough to have me as a guest on TGIF many times over the years and I have always been an enormous fan of his show. It is a testament to his stature as one of Australia’s leading broadcasters, that it took me years of secretly undermining him at the ABC to finally to get this job”.

ABC Radio Sydney acting Manager Pat Emmett said: “This is a real coup for ABC Radio Sydney and bolsters our already strong roster of presenters.

“Audiences will delight in the return of Chris Bath to Sydney airwaves with her warm and relaxed style resonating easily with listeners.

“Charlie Pickering is set to continue the incredible Thank God it’s Friday! legacy by rounding out the week with his trademark wit and enthusiasm to ease listeners in Sydney, Melbourne and on ABC Radio National into the weekend.”

About Chris Bath

Chris Bath is an Australian journalist, news anchor and radio and television presenter. Born and raised in Sydney’s west, she has been a journalist and news reporter/anchor since 1988. She began her career at Sydney’s Radio 2UE then moved to newsreader and reporting roles at Prime TV in Albury and NBN Television in Newcastle before spending two decades at the Seven network based in Sydney. She presented Evenings on ABC Radio Sydney from 2016 until 2019.

About Charlie Pickering

Charlie is an award-winning comic and TV and Radio presenter who has hosted on radio and TV. He was one of the founding hosts of The Project where he was a presenter for 5 years, has presented The Weekly with Charlie Pickering since 2015 and has been a regular host for ABC TV’s New Year’s Eve coverage. Charlie previously hosted ABC Radio Melbourne Breakfast on Friday’s.