Fran Kelly is set to return to RN in 2024 as host of Saturday Extra. The show will be moved forward in the new year, broadcasting from the earlier timeslot of 7am.
She left the RN Breakfast slot in 2021 after 17 years, handing the reins over to Patricia Karvelas.
Of her return, Fran Kelly said: “I’m delighted to be back with the RN audience and looking forward to starting my Saturday talking about the things that are happening in your world and the world at large and having some fun along the way. It is the weekend after all.”
Current Saturday Extra host Geraldine Doogue has a new program, Global Roaming with Geraldine Doogue and Hamish MacDonald, discussing international affairs with a focus on Asia and the Pacific and Australia’s place in it. It will air on RN at 8.30 am Saturdays, 6pm Mondays and 5.30am Tuesday.
Doogue said: “It’s been a genuine thrill to present Saturday Extra for these past years, to cover such a sweep of events from post 9/11 to the GFC, to domestic politics dramas, the Queen and Duke’s death, COVID and lots more in-between.
”I’ve worked with some fabulous people to whom I’ll be ever grateful. It’s exemplified, I hope, that ambitious, generalist news coverage is the glittering prize on offer to journalism and the ABC. I wish it ongoing success.”
Norman Swan and Tegan Taylor will host The Health Report, which will include their new podcast, What’s That Rash?! where they take questions from listeners on a range of health issues. The Health Report will air on RN at 9am Saturdays and 3pm Mondays.
Blueprint for Living will now be heard at the new time of 10am Fridays and 1pm Saturdays.
Throughout the week, Patricia Karvelas will be back with RN Breakfast and Andy Park will also be back hosting RN Drive.
Other returning hosts include Phillip Adams on Late Night Live and Hilary Harper on Life Matters and recent Australian Podcast Award winners Days Like These and Background Briefing.
Other changes to ABC RN’s line up and schedule include Stop Everything!, which will return next year with Beverley Wang as host. Ben Law will step away to focus on his screen commitments. The program will air in the new weekday timeslot of 11.30am and Sundays at 2pm. Co-host of The Bookshelf, Kate Evans, will take an extended break at the beginning of next year, with Cassie McCullagh anchoring the show.
Earshot will cease production of new episodes but will continue to broadcast episodes drawn from its archive across the year. Two programs, Counterpoint – hosted by Amanda Vanstone – and Between the Lines will not be returning in the new year.
Manager ABC RN Cath Dwyer said: “I’m thrilled to welcome Fran Kelly back to RN to take the reins of Saturday Extra and continue this highly respected program that Geraldine Doogue has built over many years.
“I’m also excited at the prospect of hearing Geraldine and Hamish each week exploring big issues and important stories and talking with big thinkers from around the globe. I think listeners are in for a real treat.
“I’d like to thank Amanda Vanstone and Benjamin Law for their contribution to RN, and for bringing their ideas and perspectives to RN’s audience and wish them both the very best for the future.”