News

ABC announces 2020 lineup including replacements for Chris Bath and Myf Warhurst

The ABC radio lineup for 2020 has been revealed, after it was announced last week that Sammy J would be replacing Jacinta Parsons and Sami Shah in Melbourne, and Chris Bath would be leaving the broadcaster.

New key changes include Sarah Macdonald as the replacement for Bath on Evenings in Sydney and across NSW and ACT. Myf Warhurst is also leaving the broadcaster, to be replaced in all states except Perth and Hobart by extended Afternoon and Drive programming. Warhurst’s music and culture show was not aired in Perth and Hobart.

ABC Radio will have a different lineup in some states in 2020

Director of ABC regional and local, Judith Whelan, said the changes reflected an increased focus on locally produced content as well as building more connections between metropolitan and regional audiences.

“We are ending the year with a combined reach of just over 3m listeners each week and we continue to be seen as the most trusted source of information by all Australians, no matter where they live,” she said.

Also changing is The Conversation Hour which will be hosted by Afternoons presenter Richelle Hunt with ABC Regional Radio presenter Warwick Long. The new-look one-hour program will focus on issues of interest to both metropolitan, and rural and regional, listeners across Victoria.

After being ousted from Breakfast, Parsons takes over Afternoons and Shah returns over summer to present a national Drive program. He’ll also appear on ABC Radio Melbourne in different roles across the year.

In Canberra, Weekends presenter, Lish Fejer takes over Breakfast from Dan Bourchier. Bourchier will continue to front the ABC’s 7:00pm television news bulletin in the ACT and will still present occasionally on ABC Canberra. Adrienne Francis moves into Saturday Breakfast and Kim Huynh presents Sunday Brunch.

All networked programs including Conversations with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski, Nightlife with Philip Clarke, Australia All Over with Ian ‘Macca’ McNamara and Overnights with Trevor Chappell and Rod Quinn return next year.

Radio current affairs AM, The World Today and PM also return in their regular timeslots.

ABC Grandstand will continue to cover all the major football codes as well as the cricket over summer. In Melbourne Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann, Angela Pippos and Emma Race pass the pre-game commentary mics to Alister Nicholson and Corbin Middlemas for the 2020 AFL season. Co-hosts will be announced early next year.

Summary of capital city 2020 presenter line-ups:

Sydney

Sarah Macdonald takes over NSW and ACT Evenings from Chris Bath.

Continuing: Wendy Harmer & Robbie Buck Breakfast; Cassie McCullagh Focus; James Valentine Afternoons; Richard Glover Drive and Simon Marnie Weekends.

Melbourne

Sammy J replaces Sami Shah & Jacinta Parsons at Breakfast.

Jacinta Parsons moves to Afternoons.

Afternoons presenter Richelle Hunt will co-present The Conversation Hour from 11.00am to midday with ABC regional presenter Warwick Long.

Alister Nicholson and Corbin Middlemas will be hosting pre-game AFL coverage on Saturdays and Sundays.

Continuing: Raf Epstein Drive; David Astle Evenings and Libbi Gorr Weekends.

Brisbane

No change to line-up.

Continuing: Craig Zonca and Loretta Ryan Breakfast; Rebecca Levingston Mornings; Katherine Feeney Afternoons; Steve Austin Drive; Kelly Higgins-Devine Evenings

Adelaide

No change to line-up

Continuing: Ali Clarke Breakfast; David Bevan Mornings; Sonya Feldhoff Afternoons; Jules Schiller Drive; Peter Goers Evenings (Mon-Thurs) and Smart Arts (Sundays) and Deb Tribe Weekends (Saturdays).

Perth

No change to line-up

Continuing: Barry Nicholls Early Mornings; Nadia Mitsopoulos and Russell Woolf Breakfast; Jessica Strutt Focus; Gillian O’Shaughnessy Afternoons; Geoff Hutchison Drive; Christine Layton Saturday Breakfast; and Sabrina Hahn Roots and Shoots.

Canberra

Lish Fejer takes over Breakfast from Dan Bourchier.

Adrienne Francis moves to Saturday Breakfast.

Kim Huynh presents Sunday Brunch.

Continuing: Adam Shirley Mornings; Paula Kruger Afternoons; and Anna Vidot Drive.

Darwin

No change to line-up

Continuing: Jo Laverty Breakfast; Adam Steer Mornings; Matt Brann NT Country Hour; Miranda Tetlow Early Afternoons; Mikaela Simpson Afternoons; Liz Trevaskis Drive; Rebecca McLaren Evenings; Joel Spry Saturday Breakfast & Mornings; and Jess Ong Sunday Mornings.

Hobart

Jane Longhurst presents Sunday Morning.

Continuing: Ryk Goddard Breakfast; Leon Compton Mornings; Tony Briscoe The Country Hour; Helen Shield Afternoons; Lucy Breaden Drive; Paul McIntyre Evenings; Joel Rheinberger Weekends.

Summary of national networked programs

Returning

Conversations with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski (11.00am – 12.00pm weekdays).

Nightlife with Philip Clark (10.00pm – 12.00am weekdays).

Australia All Over with Ian ‘Macca’ McNamara (6.00am – 10.00am Sundays).

Overnights with Trevor Chappell and Rod Quinn all return for 2020 (2.00am – 6.00am weekdays).

Weekend Evenings with Christine Anu and Rhianna Patrick.

Networked Radio Current Affairs programs

AM presented by Sabra Lane (weekdays at 6.05am & 8.00am) and Thomas Oriti (Saturdays at 8.00am).

The World Today presented by Eleanor Hall (12.05 pm weekdays).

PM presented by Linda Mottram (6.30pm weekdays).

Sport

ABC Grandstand returns with blow-by-blow and pre-game commentary covering the cricket, AFL & NRL.

Local programs will keep listeners up to date with sporting action in their region.

In Melbourne Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann, Angela Pippos and Emma Race pass the pre-game weekend commentary mics to Alister Nicholson and Corbin Middlemas.

New co-hosts for the 2020 AFL season will be announced early in the new year.

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