ABC Radio has announced its 2021 presenter line ups, which remain relatively stable for all networks, with no changes for ABC Radio Sydney and ABC Radio Melbourne.
Several ABC radio networks recorded their highest audience reach and share in a decade due largely to the bushfire coverage followed by coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic and the US election.
Triple j introduces a new breakfast duo with Bryce Mills and Ebony Boadu starting on 18 January – just before the Hottest 100 of 2020 countdown on Saturday 23 January and the Hottest 200 on 24 January.
ABC Radio National will launch a new Saturday afternoon show presented by podcaster/broadcaster Marc Fennell. The Weekend with Marc Fennell starts on Saturday 30 January from 1.00pm and will feature a range of RN content from popular programs and podcasts.
ABC Capital City stations
In Sydney, Robbie Buck and Wendy Harmer return to co-present Breakfast; followed by Cassie McCullagh’s Focus, James Valentine is back in Afternoons, followed by Richard Glover in Drive; and Sarah Macdonald in Evenings. Simon Marnie is back on Weekends.
In Melbourne, Sammy J will once again start the day on Breakfast; followed by Virginia Trioli in Mornings; Richelle Hunt and Warwick Long with The Conversation Hour; Jacinta Parsons in Afternoons; Raf Epstein in Drive; and David Astle in Evenings. Libbi Gorr returns for Weekends.
In Canberra, Paula Kruger moves to an off-air ABC role next year and is replaced in Afternoons by Georgia Stynes.
Mel Bush joins the Evenings show in Hobart, replacing Louise Saunders who retired this year and Joel Rheinberger will present Breakfast on Fridays and across the weekend.
ABC Radio Perth’s Weekend Breakfast presenter Christine Layton moves into weekday Afternoons next year, taking over from Gillian O’Shaughnessy. Breakfast co-hosts Russell Woolf and Nadia Mitsopoulos present their own shows across the Breakfast and Mornings timeslots with Russell from 5.00am and Nadia from 8.30am each weekday.
Kate O’Toole moves into the Weekends slot in Brisbane presenting Saturday Breakfast from 6.00am and Sunday Breakfast from 10.00am.
There are no changes to ABC Radio Adelaide.
All networked programs return next year including Conversations, presented by Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski; Phil Clark and Indira Naidoo on Nightlife: Ian ‘Macca’ McNamara returns with Australia All Over on Sunday mornings; and Trevor Chappell and Rod Quinn on Overnights. Sirine Dimachkie presents the networked Evenings show each Friday, with Christine Anu presenting Saturday Evenings and Craig Quartermaine Sunday Evenings.
AM, The World Today and PM all return in their current timeslots next year.
All ABC metropolitan 2021 line-ups start on air on Monday 18 January.
ABC Regional
Annie Gaffney moves into the presenter’s chair for the Southern Drive program covering South East Queensland.
On the Gold Coast, Nicole Dyer will present Breakfast Monday to Thursdays. Bern Young will present Breakfast on Friday as well as Saturday Breakfast. Matt Webber will present Mornings and Julie Clift will present Drive.
In Longreach, Dan Prosser is new to Breakfast.