Tony Armstrong and Miriam Margolyes headline ABC’s fresh line-up for 2025
Former breakfast TV star Tony Armstrong and the beloved British-Australian raconteur Miriam Margolyes headline the ABC’s new programming line-up for 2025, with each handed a decent slice of air-time action.
Announcing a stronger focus on the arts, chief content officer Chris Oliver-Taylor revealed there were 23 new programs “from all genres” set for the ABC in 2025, as he presented the fresh content slate on Thursday.
New Orleans-born composer and singer Harry Connick Jr will join Australian concert pianist in The Piano, a mentoring series to help aspiring performers achieve their dreams.
And for those dedicated Media Watch fans – the show everybody loves … until they’re on it – sitting in the hot seat will be investigative reporter Linton Besser, picking up the mantle from Paul Barry, who ends his 11-year run.
A veteran of stage and screen, Margolyes, 83, who revealed in July she was suffering serious health issues and was registered disabled, is taking her roadshow adventure series to New Zealand in Miriam Margolyes: Made in NZ.
Tony Armstrong was named Most Popular Presenter at the 2023 Logie Awards. Photo: AAPMore connections
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She has already charmed us all in her popular ABC television series’, Miriam Margolyes: Almost Australian and Miriam Margolyes: Australia Unmasked and Miriam Margolyes: Impossibly Australian, driving a minivan across the nation.
Dubbed “the David Attenborough of humans” for her innate ability to connect with people from all walks of life,” she’s previously told The New Daily “it’s a gift I have always had and which I am very grateful for and I cherish”.
“When people see me, they’re not afraid of me. Nor should they be. Here they see a short, fat woman, old, crippled, I am disabled. What is there to be afraid of?
“I’ve got a kind face, and I’m smiley and I am really interested in what they have to say.”
Armstrong busy
Days before this year’s AFL grand final, Logie winner Tony Armstrong announced live on air he was quitting the ABC’s flagship breakfast TV show to explore new opportunities.
ABC director of news Justin Stevens said at the time Armstrong was a ‘‘once-in-a-generation talent and couldn’t “wait to see what he does into the future and see his career continue to go from strength to strength”.
On January 7, the former AFL player turned TV host will host Eat The Invaders, a series exploring a radical culinary solution to the invasive plants and animals attacking Australia’s unique biodiversity.
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In End Game, he’s on a mission to find global solutions to the rising tide of racism in Australian sport and inspire lasting change.
During his “meteoric rise” Armstrong won the Graham Kennedy Award for most popular new talent at the 2022 Logie Awards.
In 2023, he won the Bert Newton Award for most popular presenter and he was shortlisted for the Gold Logie this year.
A Gamilaroi man, Armstrong expanded his TV career to host other ABC series recently, including A Dog’s World and Tony Armstrong’s Extraordinary Things.
Ratings boost
According to OzTAM VPM data (On Demand) from January to October this year, ABC iview was the No.1 BVOD [broadcast video on demand] choice for on-demand programming, ABC News was the No.1 digital news brand in September, and ABC Radio tops for a digital live-streaming network.
“The role of ABC News in delivering news and information people know they can trust is becoming increasingly important and will be vital in a federal election year,” Stevens said.
Other highlights
Other ABC 2025 Upfronts highlights include:
- The Family Next Door: Based on bestselling Australian author Sally Hepworth’s novel of the same name, this is the story of Isabelle (Teresa Palmer), who moves into a small seaside cul-de-sac where her obsessive drive to solve a mystery casts suspicion on four neighbouring families
- Optics: Jenna Owen, Vic Zerbst and Charles Firth are the masters of spin in a six-part comedy series
- New favourites Shaun Micallef’s Eve of Destruction and A Bite To Eat with Alice are in development to return
- The Fresh Blood initiative with Screen Australia will see three debut projects hit screens including Going Under, Urvi Went to an All Girls School and Westerners
- The Role of a Lifetime: Amanda Keller and an ensemble of comedians explore parenting dilemmas alongside sketches featuring Kate Ritchie and Nazeem Hussain
- Hear Me Out: Show tackling the often-contentious discussion surrounding Australia Day from a First Nations point of view
- Do Not Watch This Show: Andy Lee brings his best-selling book series to life in the new animated series
- Vera: The crime series concludes with two films
- Medialand: Tim Burrowes to host.
And Annabel Crabb and the team behind Kitchen Cabinet and Ms Represented are working again, with a new series investigating the barely-believable true story of how Australia’s globally unique voting system came to be.
Audience favourites I Was Actually There, The Assembly, Grand Designs Australia, Restoration Australia, Back Roads, Landline and Compass all return for new seasons.
Meanwhile, Triple J will celebrate 50 years on the airwaves, with a stack of special events lined up throughout the year.
