ABC names James Glenday to host News Breakfast
The ABC has named experienced host and journalist James Glenday to replace Michael Rowland as the host of its flagship morning TV show.
Glenday has been the national broadcaster’s nightly news presenter in Canberra for two years and is a regular fill-in host on News Breakfast.
“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,” he said.
“It will be a beautiful thing to present the show with Bridget [Brennan], 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.”
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Glenday joined the ABC as a cadet in 2010 in Darwin. In the years since, he has been the broadcaster’s national affairs editor, done two turns in the Canberra press gallery and has also been Europe and North America correspondent.
He gets the nod for the permanent breakfast TV role after long-term host Rowland announced last week he was leaving.
“After 15 years of 3am starts my body is screaming ‘enough!’. The hours have finally caught up with me,” he said.
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In another announcement on Monday, Catherine Murphy becomes News Breakfast‘s permanent sports presenter. She takes over from Tony Armstrong, who departed the show in early October.
“I’m so excited to join the program on a full-time basis,” Murphy said.
“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.
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.
She joined the ABC in 2018, and has worked on several shows since.
Glenday and Murphy join News Breakfast regulars Nate Byrne, Charles Brice and Emma Rebellato as the show’s 2025 line-up.
ABC news director Justin Stevens said Glenday was a terrific and natural presenter”, who already had a connection with the show’s 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,” he said.
Rowland’s last show is this Friday.
The new line-up begins from January 20, 2025.
