ABC Radio has announced that the co-host of ABC News Breakfast, Virginia Trioli, will take over from Jon Faine next year as presenter of the Mornings program on ABC Radio Melbourne.
Faine, who has been presenting his show for 23 years, announced in January that this would be his last year on air.
Trioli is best-known to ABC audiences as co-presenter ABC News Breakfast since 2008 as well as being a regular stand-in host on Q&A.
Trioli said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be taking on one of the most precious radio jobs in the country. Jon and the ABC Melbourne team, for more than two decades, have created an agenda-setting and community-building program that means so much not only to Melburnians, but to anyone who values great conversation and the vital need for the continuing contest of ideas. Radio is in my soul and I’m pinching myself that this once-in-a-career opportunity has come my way. Melbourne – we’re going to make great radio together!”
Acting director of ABC Regional & Local Judith Whelan said there was no one more qualified to step into Jon Faine’s role than Virginia Trioli. “Virginia is one of those rare broadcasters who brings insight and clarity to often complex issues and does so with an openness and good humour that audiences respond to. Virginia knows the issues, knows the subjects and most importantly knows Melbourne. She will take the program on to new heights in 2020, continuing to set the daily agenda in Melbourne, as it has done for the past 23 years. ABC Radio is thrilled to welcome Virginia back as one of our key presenters.”
Trioli began her media career at The Age in 1990 and has worked for the ABC since 1999.She presented Drive on ABC Radio Melbourne for five years from 2000 to 2005 and the Mornings show on ABC Radio Sydney for two years in the mid-2000s. Trioli has won two Walkley awards and was named Melbourne’s Best Columnist at the 1999 Melbourne Press Club awards.