Just one week ago the ABC Radio Sydney breakfast hosts, Wendy Harmer and Robbie Buck, announced this will be the last year they will present their show. The move shocked their large Sydney audience as the breakfast co-hosts told their listeners they had made the decision to “go out on a high” with their last show scheduled for Friday 10 December 2021.
This morning Robbie and Wendy shared with their audience news about who would be taking over their breakfast timeslot.
Just before they made the reveal, which they had been touting since they started on air at 6.15am today, Robbie Buck had a quick chat about radio ratings. “It’s not something we normally talk about, but the results yesterday were thought to be the highest-ever at the station.”
The Survey 6 breakfast result saw ABC Sydney on 15.7%, up 1.7 from 14.0% in the previous survey. The only show outperforming the station at that time of day is 2GB’s Ben Fordham.
As to a comment from one listener this morning about why they are leaving when ratings are so high, Wendy and Robbie responded: “Our job here is done,” joked the dynamic duo.
As to the new announcer, Robbie Buck explained again how the decision to leave was all their own.
Getting the breakfast role is current longtime afternoon host, James Valentine. “We are so glad it is you,” said the current breakfast hosts who welcomed Valentine to the show.
Valentine joked about how he has had to work for 23 years at the station – one year in morning and then 22 years in afternoon – before getting the promotion.
“What I am going to do in breakfast…I haven’t a clue. We will find out together,” he promised listeners.
Valentine added: “When I first worked at the station in the mid-90s, it was Clive Robertson, then Phil Clarke, with Andrew Olle on afterwards. Angela Catterns, Adam Spencer, Wendy and Robbie — that’s a legacy to build on and I’m excited and grateful for the opportunity.
“I know I’m going to love doing breakfast. It’s a completely different time of the day, so it will be completely different radio.”
New ABC Sydney breakfast show hours
While Valentine gets’ ABC Sydney breakfast, he has new hours. He will be on air at 6.15am after early AM and will stay until 9am, returning for 30 minutes after AM ends at 8.30am.
Cassie McCullagh
ABC Sydney morning host get extra hour
Cassie McCullagh gets a new morning show at ABC Sydney, hosting from 9am. Since joining the ABC in 2007, McCullagh has presented and produced a wide range of programs for Radio National, Local Radio and Classic FM. She currently hosts a daily one hour ABC Sydney show starting at 10am. McCullagh’s new show will run for two hours from 9am.
Josh Szeps
Who replaces James Valentine?
One of the favourites tipped to replace Wendy and Robbie, Josh Szeps, has been given Valentine’s afternoon slot from 12.30pm to 3.30pm. Szeps inherits the #1 Sydney afternoon show from Valentine after the station recorded a share of 12.7% in Survey 6.
See also: Robbie Buck and Wendy Harmer to leave ABC Radio Sydney Breakfast
ABC Radio released the full 2022 program scheme
Breakfast with James Valentine (6.15am – 8.00am).
AM (8.00am – 8.30am).
Breakfast with James Valentine (8.30am -9.00am).
Mornings with Cassie McCullagh (9.00am – 11.00am).
Conversations with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski (11.00am – 12.00pm).
The World Today (12.00pm – 12.30pm).
Afternoons with Josh Szeps (12.30pm – 3.30pm).
Drive with Richard Glover (3.30pm – 6.30pm).
PM (6.30pm – 7.00pm).
Evenings with Sarah Macdonald (7.00pm – 10.00pm).
Friday and Saturday Evenings with Sirine Demachkie and Christine Anu.
Nightlife with Phil Clark and Indira Naidoo (10.00pm – 2.00am).
Overnights with Trevor Chappell and Rod Quinn (2.00am – 6.00am).
Weekend Breakfast with Simon Marnie (Saturdays 6.00am – 8.00am).
This Week (Saturdays 8.00am – 8.30am).
Weekend Mornings with Simon Marnie (8.30am – 12.00pm).
Australia All Over with Ian ‘Macca’ McNamara (Sundays 5.30am – 10.00am).
Weekend Mornings with Simon Marnie (10.00am – 12.00pm).