ABC announces return of Insiders and Q+A with David Speers and Hamish Macdonald
The ABC’s flagship news and current affairs programming will return in early February with their new hosts.
Insiders will be back on Sunday February 2 with David Speers at the helm, while Q+A will return Monday February 3 with Hamish Macdonald.
Insiders is back for its 20th year, with Speers joining from Sky News where he was political editor. His move across to ABC was somewhat stalled after the story was initially broken by the Guardian, and then confirmed by outgoing host Barrie Cassidy, but Speers was then forced to see out the year with Sky News.
Annabel Crabb and Fran Kelly held down the fort in the meantime, but Speers is ready to fill Cassidy’s shoes now, after 19 years with Sky News.
Speers will be joined by reporters and analysts every Sunday morning to discuss the week in politics, with a number of new faces set to join in 2020. Mike Bowers will also return for another season of Talking Pictures.
A regular fill-in host of Q+A, Macdonald was revealed to be taking the helm full time at ABC’s 2020 upfronts event. He will continue his role reporting for Ten, as well as his regular spots on ABC Radio.
The program will return with a bushfire special which will be broadcast live from the Bega Showground Pavilion, giving fire-affected communities the chance to ask questions of our leaders and take part in an all-important conversation about disaster management, community recovery and shaping national policy for the future.
Tony Jones announced he would be leaving the format in 2019 after years as host, to head to China with wife Sarah Ferguson.
I’m over Q and A and the Insiders.
I like unbiased truth and don’t get it from either of these forums. Doctore
d / edited presentations that are clearly left wing don’t cut it for me or the majority of pro Australia citizens.
User ID not verified.
I just feel very sad for you.
User ID not verified.
Insiders supplies the very best Australian journalism; unbiased, clear and incisive. The progam has been AWOL during a critical time during the bushfire crisis which has been a blessing for an absent PM.
Best possible breakfast for me on Feb 2.
User ID not verified.
What a let down for both programs, I’m sure the ABC could’ve found better presenters for both programs. Don’t know if I want to watch either of them anymore.
User ID not verified.
Please ABC couldn’t you get better hosts for these two shows.when it comes time to get straight answers from the government, these two presenters will shrink and let the Politicians off the hook, both weak journos.
User ID not verified.
Agree
Show lost me after Barry exited. Too biased
Unless becomes moderate again
User ID not verified.