Barrie Cassidy confirms Sky News’ David Speers as his Insiders replacement
After an initial report in The Guardian broke the story, Barrie Cassidy has spoken out this morning on ABC News Breakfast, confirming Sky News political editor David Speers will be his Insiders replacement.
Cassidy announced he would be retiring from the role earlier this year, although mentioned he would continue some involvement with the ABC after his departure.
“He will be there, eventually… I couldn’t be more chuffed,” says #Insiders host @barriecassidy about @David_Speers.#auspol pic.twitter.com/GckarEaKvB
— News Breakfast (@BreakfastNews) May 23, 2019
The news has come as a shock to some, with Speers not being mentioned in the swirl of names thrown around before the announcement. ABC talent Patricia Karvelas and Annabel Crabb were favourites to take up the helm.
But Speers has long been regarded as the jewel in Sky News’ political reporting helm, and the role at ABC will allow him to step back from what some have considered the increasingly right-leaning Sky News. It was made clear on Twitter after the announcement, with many of Speers’ peers congratulating him on the career move, how highly regarded the journalist is in the industry.
I hear my friend and professional rival David Speers is joining the ABC. He is, without doubt, one of the best in the business. The national broadcaster is lucky to have him and I look forward to many years of good-spirited competition. Congratulations mate. @9NewsAUS #auspol
— Chris Uhlmann (@CUhlmann) May 23, 2019
Neither Speers nor the ABC have made a formal statement, with Cassidy saying on News Breakfast this morning that ‘bureaucracy’ had got in the way.
“There has been no formal announcement, and the bureaucracy gets in the way at times like this, but he’ll be there eventually,” said Cassidy when asked about the announcement by News Breakfast host Virginia Trioli.
“I couldn’t be more chuffed that somebody with his credibility and respect within the industry, which was so apparent on Twitter last night, wants to do Insiders. That really pleases me,” concluded Cassidy.
“It really is fantastic and it makes us feel really comfortable that it’ll be passed from your hands to an incredibly safe pair of hands,” said Trioli.
Trioli, who herself will be departing her role shortly to take over from Jon Faine as the presenter of the Mornings program on ABC Radio Melbourne, also mentioned in the segment that Cassidy would continue to be a regular on the News Breakfast couch after his retirement.
Cassidy has been the host of the Sunday political program since its inception in 2001. Prior to that he was the ABC chief political correspondent and a press secretary for Bob Hawke.
Speers has been with Sky News for over 10 years, primarily as the face of political reporting for the channel.
Great to have you onboard @David_Speers ! Look forward to seeing you on the @InsidersABC couch!
— Fran Kelly (@frankelly08) May 23, 2019
Oh that explains the gnashing and wailing I can hear. Like music to my ears.
User ID not verified.
Hang on, Sky is ‘increasingly right wing’ meaning the ABC is balanced??? Hahahahahaha pull the other one! And this appointment will allow David Speers to ‘pull back’ from being ‘right wing?’ In other words, toe the Marxist LaborGreen line or else.
User ID not verified.
I see both of Sky News’s viewers have come on here to comment and leap to its defence.
User ID not verified.
Sky News after dark is best suited to being played from a balcony in Austria.
User ID not verified.
David Speers one of the fairest political analysts we have.
No bias, just excellent, intelligent commentary.
I had stopped watching Insiders. Unfortunately it lost its ability to show both sides of the political spectrum. The constant leftist undercurrent made it unpalatable. It’s nice to have a variety of thoughts on the couch.
Hope David can steer it back to where it began.
User ID not verified.
“… what some have considered the increasingly right-leaning Sky News.”
Really? Sky News just polishes Rupert’s ultra-right credentials. Spears is now the best thing it has going for it. He’ll add lustre to the ABC, but we’ll miss Barrie’s craggy face and remarkable hair.
User ID not verified.
Will Trump Anschluss Australia?
User ID not verified.
Nick, I think I’ve spotted a typo. Bunker is not spelt “b-a-l-c-o-n-y”.
User ID not verified.
What a great hire. Speers is impressive in every way. One can only hope that two more will join him as they don’t deserve to remain in the environment of Boris.
User ID not verified.
Speers, who has been working for overlords Murdoch and Stokes on Fox (Sky) News, now infiltrating the ABC.
Shouldn’t we be worried here?
User ID not verified.
Good to see Speers joining a credible organisation and now he will actually have viewers.
User ID not verified.
Barrie Cassidy will be sadly missed. Just dont bring Murdoch affairs on Insiders…..!!!!!
User ID not verified.
As long as Spears doesn’t have any of the Sky “news”channel political commentators on insiders I will keep watching it. The Insiders program is for political journalists, Sky news is a political commentator news channel and has very little to do with actual news more to do with bashing anyone and everyone who doesn’t fit the masters ideals most of which is what the Donald would call “fake news”. I am glad ABC has cancelling the 4million a year they payed Foxtel to be there when that money was used to bash the ABC, didn’t make sense. One final thing,Sky news does realize that the election is over doesn’t it. Just a thought.
User ID not verified.
I watched insiders religiously when Barry cassidy presented. Since it has become one sided and I watch sky news to get the opossing side of any debate. David Speers should strike a balance once again.
User ID not verified.
David Speers is one of the last of the TRUE unbiast journalists we have left in Australia. Of course he will be balanced with his interviews.( More so than most on the ABC and Guardian.) Neither will he take on the arrogance of telling Australians how they should think or behave.
User ID not verified.