Tony Armstrong reveals exact moment he had to quit his presenter role at the ABC: ‘Killing me’

Tony Armstrong has detailed the exact moment he knew he had to depart his sports presenter role on ABC News Breakfast.

Tony Armstrong has reflected on his departure from ABC News Breakfast last year after three years on the job.

Speaking candidly on the Inherited podcast, Armstrong detailed the moment he knew he had to quit, with his body ultimately making the decision for him.

“I decided about halfway through last year that that was going to be it for breakfast because it was killing me,” he told host Ruby Hall in this week’s podcast.

“Like literally, I ended up staying in bed for like a month because I just couldn’t get up.”

The 35-year-old former AFL star said he would be rostered to go on-air, but his body just wouldn’t co-operate. Eventually, his partner Rona Glynn-McDonald – the CEO of First Nations not-for-profit Common Ground – told him he needed to put his health first.

“I couldn’t get out of bed and Rona was just like, ‘Look. your body’s telling you you need to resign.’ But like I finally got a job that’s secure and you know what this business is like – it’s pretty fickle. And I’ve never really been someone who’s like, ‘Oh, I’ll be right’. You know, I’m established enough to be able to do what I want.”

Tony Armstrong was at the height of his career when he decided to take a step back.

Armstrong reflected on his decision to leave the ABC in a new Inherited podcast.

Armstrong said that Rona helped him realise that it was important to “look after my own health rather than job security”.

“I’m really proud that we were able to step away, and I did that through her help,” he said.

The former athlete announced his departure from ABC News Breakfast last September.

Speaking on-air at the time, the popular presenter said his final show would be October 4.

“I’ve been pretty nervous about doing this,” he began, before going on to say he had “retired from News Breakfast”.

“I just want to thank Brekky and the broader ABC News team for welcoming me in with open arms and helping me grow over the past few years,” he added. “[It] feels like I’ve been on a bit of a rocket ship.”

The presenter announced his departure from News Breakfast last September. Picture: ABC

Armstrong continued, “I’m going to miss the couch. Not the alarm, but I’ll miss the couch. And, yeah, I’ve had such a ball. I’m going to miss everyone but, um, yeah. You’ll still see me around.”

Indeed, after few months of R&R, Armstrong has lined up his next big gig alongside Australian drag queen and singer Courtney Act.

The duo has been named as SBS’s commentary team for the Eurovision Song Contest in Switzerland, with the grand final airing this weekend.

Armstrong credits his partner Rona Glynn-McDonald for helping him put his health first. Picture: James Gourley/Getty Images

“I’m not entirely a first-time viewer but definitely not someone who comes with the knowledge of all the voting alliances that all the nations have,” Armstrong told news.com.au.

“So where the partnership with Courtney will come to the fore is me going ‘this is a bit weird’ and she will be able to fill in that gap.”

The presenter pros were given a “chemistry test” before landing the coveted gig, which was long held by Joel Creasey and Myf Warhurst before they stepped down in December.

“We had the television chemistry test, which I’ve never, ever done before,” Act revealed.

“I had met Tony in real life but then we did the test at SBS and hung out for the day and commentated on past Eurovisions and obviously it went well and they asked us to be the hosts.”

SBS will broadcast the semi-finals and grand final of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest from May 14 to 18.

Originally published as Tony Armstrong reveals exact moment he had to quit his presenter role at the ABC: ‘Killing me’