ABC Radio Sydney makes major changes to its 2024 line-up

ABC Radio Sydney has made major changes to its line-up, with big names set to depart their posts next year. Find out who is in and who is out.

ABC Radio Sydney has made some brutal moves with its Sydney programming slate with a major host shake-up as a result.

James Valentine is out of the prime time breakfast slot with The Chaser’s Craig Reucassel to replace him in a bid to stop haemorrhaging ratings.

Indira Naidoo too will leave her evening show, although will stay with the TV arm of the broadcaster.

It comes after the recently announced departure of Josh Szeps from the afternoon timeslot.

Industry veteran Valentine meanwhile will return to the afternoon shift from mid-January.

Craig Reucassel. Picture: AAP/Simon Bullard

ABC Sydney has struggled since the departure of Wendy Harmer and Robbie Buck in the all-important breakfast slot in October, 2021.

Ratings wise, the pair peaked with a score of an audience share of 15.9 per cent of the breakfast market.

Most recently, Valentine’s breakfast show rated 8.4 per cent, well below market leaders Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson on commercial music station, KIIS FM, with a 16.3 per cent audience share.

James Valentine is returning to afternoons on ABC Radio Sydney. Picture: John Appleyard

Ben Fordham on 2GB was a smidgen behind with a share of 16.2 per cent of the breakfast audience.

Comedian Reucassel said: “I’m honoured to be joining ABC Radio Sydney as the station celebrates its centenary. I’ve got some big shoes to fill, following in the footsteps of some incredible broadcasters including James. I’m looking forward to getting to know the audience over breakfast and my morning coffee (from a reusable coffee cup of course). The bit about being excited to wake up at 3am was a lie though.”

ABC Radio Sydney manager Steve Ahern described Reucassel as “one of the ABC’s most versatile talents, able to ask the hard questions and still have a laugh about the quirky and the unusual things going on around the city.”

He continued: “Our afternoon audience will enjoy the return of James Valentine to the timeslot. They have missed his laconic sense of humour in the afternoon hours.”

Valentine announced the changes live on air.

“I’m delighted to be returning to my afternoon timeslot and reuniting with my afternoon listeners,” he said. “It’s been an incredible privilege leading Breakfast these past two years and I wish Craig all the best with the early starts.”

Indira Naidoo. Picture: Jane Dempster/The Australian.

Naidoo meanwhile will focus on long format interviews for Compass TV show, as well as working on a new book that will involve “some overseas travel”.

She will be replaced by regular relief presenter Renee Krosch.

ABC RADIO SYDNEY 2024 LINEUP

WEEKDAYS

Breakfast – Craig Reucassel

AM – Sabra Lane

Mornings – Sarah Macdonald

The World Today – Sally Sara

Afternoons – James Valentine

Drive – Richard Glover

PM – David Lipson

Evenings – Renee Krosch (Fridays Sirine Demachkie)

Nightlife – Philip Clarke (Fridays Suzanne Hill)

Overnights – Michael Pavlich (Fridays Rod Quinn)

SATURDAY

Breakfast – Simon Marnie

Afternoon – Grandstand

Evening – Robbie Buck, Songs & Stories

Nightlife – Suzanne Hill

Overnight – Rod Quinn

SUNDAY

Australia All Over – Ian Macnamara

Morning – Simon Marnie

Afternoon – Grandstand

Evening – Christine Anu

Speaking Out – Larissa Behrendt

Nightlife – Suzanne Hill

Overnight – Rod Quinn