James Glenday to co-host News Breakfast
Catherine Murphy named as Tony Armstrong's successor presenting Sport.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News
As tipped, James Glenday will succeed Michael Rowland as News Breakfast co-host, joining Bridget Brennan on the couch in 2025.
ABC has also confirmed Catherine Murphy as Brekky’s full-time Sports Presenter, replacing Tony Armstrong, joining regulars Nate Byrne, Charles Brice and Emma Rebellato.
“The chance to join News Breakfast and take over from Michael Rowland, a beloved colossus of Australian broadcasting, is an offer I couldn’t refuse,” says Glenday.
“It will be a beautiful thing to present the show with Bridget, a long-time friend and fellow millennial. We’re quite different people, but for some inexplicable reason she tolerates my terrible jokes, so we get along well.
“ABC News Breakfast is the natural place for the biggest names in Australia to come to share their news and stories. I can’t wait to begin work with the very talented team.”
Currently in Dublin following the Wallabies for Summer Grandstand, Catherine Murphy said, “I’m so excited to join the program on a full-time basis. I’ve loved working with the team when I’ve filled in and I’m so excited for 2025. News Breakfast is the only show I’d set my alarm at 3am for. Goodbye midweek social life. I love you so much, but it’s time to break up.”
Justin Stevens, ABC Director, News: “We’re delighted to welcome James to the News Breakfast couch. As well as being an experienced journalist James is a terrific and natural presenter who has already developed a warm connection with News Breakfast viewers.
“The new line-up of James and Bridget with Nate, Catherine, Emma and Charles will continue Brekky’s great tradition of providing the most robust, trusted, hefty, interesting and entertaining news in Australian media each morning.”
Michael Rowland departs this Friday while the full new line-up will be on air from Monday 20 January.
About James Glenday:
James joined the ABC as a cadet in 2010 in Darwin. He met Bridget on his first day and they have been friends ever since.
For the past two years, James has been the face of the ABC in the Canberra region, presenting the nightly 7PM news.
Before that he was the National Affairs Editor at Parliament House and spent six years, across two stints, in the Press Gallery.
James was also a Europe and North America correspondent, reporting from more than 40 countries during five years abroad with the ABC.
He has filled in for Michael Rowland on the breakfast couch in Melbourne and as a host on weekend breakfast many times over the past three years.
James grew up in Dubbo, NSW and is a big fan of regional Australia.
About Catherine Murphy:
Catherine Murphy started her career in the sports department of Ireland’s national broadcaster RTÉ, before moving to Australia in 2006 to work with Fox Sports.
In 2018, Catherine joined the ABC where she’s worked with a number of programs across TV and radio including co-hosting Monday’s Experts with Tony Armstrong and The Cat and Matt Show on ABC Radio Melbourne with Matt Preston. She’s also a regular panellist on Offsiders.
- Tagged with News Breakfast
6 Responses
“A big fan of regional Australia.”
What a completely normal thing to say.
I’m happy with these appts. Catherine is brilliant. And James is a perfect fit. I haven’t warmed to Bridget at all. When Lisa left I all but stopped watching…
Given that Michael Rowland has been with the ABC for decades (along with the News Breakfast co-host role he’s about to leave being reasonably prestigious), I think he’d probably be getting decent money but obviously not the millions likely received by some presenters in commercial TV & radio.
After his well earnt break, I won’t be surprised if Michael Rowland gets a decent gig somewhere on ABC TV or radio with more reasonable hours. He’d probably make a very good 7pm bulletin presenter but I can’t seriously envision a scenario where Jeremy Fernandez or Tamara Oudyn (who were 2nd in-line for ages before getting the main chair in their respective states IIRC) are likely to step down from their well-earnt spots anytime in the immediate future!
Sorry but the continual changing of the hosts or co-hosts – Virginia Trioli, Lisa Miller, Paul Kennedy, Tony Armstrong, and now Michael Rowland over the past 5 years or so, it is a bit of “musical chairs” . I wonder how long before Brennan or Glendale get Itchy Feet and move on also? ABC not paying these people as much money as the commercials are I guess?
Early morning starts are hard slog, just as we have seen with Today, less so at Sunrise. To be fair Michael Rowland has 15 years.
Virginia did 11 years and Paul Kennedy 13 years. We’ve had some faster turnover in 2024 with Tony, Lisa and now Michael departing but I would not categorize a 5 year period as continual changing.