James Glenday has been unveiled as the new co-host of ABC-TV’s national morning program, News Breakfast.
Outgoing host Michael Rowland introduced his replacement to viewers on Monday morning, saying “if I had a baton I’d hand it to you, but you’re the berst person for the job, I reckon”.
James Glenday, who presents the ABC’s ACT news bulletin, will replace Michael Rowland as News Breakfast co-host.Credit: ABC
“Big shoes to fill,” said Glenday, who will start in the role in January. “Bit nervous, I must admit, coming on the couch like this next to greatness.”
Glenday is the former host of the 7pm news bulletin in the ACT. He will share the couch with Bridget Brennan, who joined the show in August.
“I’m a little bit sad about moving to Melbourne, Canberra’s the beating heart of Australia,” Glenday joked on Monday morning’s program. “But I hear Melbourne’s been working on becoming more attractive.”
It has been all change on News Breakfast in recent times. In August, Lisa Millar departed after five years as co-host. In October, Tony Armstrong announced he was leaving after three years of early starts. The departure of Rowland, who joined the line-up in 2010, completes a clean sweep.
The ABC will be hoping its new lineup resonates with viewers. The show consistently rates last among the three morning news magazine shows on free-to-air television, behind Nine’s Today and Seven’s Sunrise, the leader by some margin.
Last Monday, Sunrise averaged 405,000 viewers on linear and BVOD, Today managed 298,000 and News Breakfast was watched by an average 236,000 Australians.
More to come.
