Fran Kelly departs ABC Radio National Breakfast after 17 years

Another major name at the ABC will hang up their microphone, with the departure set to cause ripples in the radio ratings.

Fran Kelly has quit her post on ABC Radio National Breakfast in yet another major shake-up of the medium at the public broadcaster.

Respected journalist Kelly has been in the job for 17 years and will wrap up on December 2.

“I have loved every second of it,” she said.

“Each morning is an adrenaline-fuelled, non-stop live ride interviewing some of the greatest and most interesting minds in Australia and the world. I thrive on the thrill of both setting the day’s news agenda and engaging in the public discussions we have as a society.”

Fran Kelly will depart ABC Radio National Breakfast after 17 years.

Kelly, who grew up in Adelaide and had the ear of Canberra as RN host, will continue with the ABC in 2022 in a different capacity, including the federal election coverage and co-hosting political podcast The Party Room.

“Presenting RN Breakfast is the best journalism job in the country and it is very hard to walk away from it.

“But Breakfast is a hard taskmaster – 17 years of early mornings is tough on the body and soul and I am choosing to leave now because I never want to give this job any less than 100 per cent,” she said.

“I love the ABC. It’s been my home for three decades and while I’m very sad to be leaving my beloved RN Breakfast and my listeners, I won’t be leaving the ABC.

“I will still be here on projects throughout the election and beyond and look forward to being able to meet my listeners in other roles over the next few years.”

The news comes after ABC Sydney announced this month that long-serving broadcaster James Valentine would replace outgoing Wendy Harmer and Robbie Buck on breakfast for the channel.

Outgoing ABC Breakfast hosts Wendy Harmer and Robbie Buck.

A replacement for Kelly will be announced later this year.

ABC Managing Director David Anderson said: “Fran is no doubt one of Australia’s most respected political journalists but she’s so much more than that.

“I admire her ability to engage Australians in important conversations across a wide brief, from breaking news and national crises through to sport, music and the arts.

“She’s fearless when it comes to the tough political issues but also incredibly empathetic when talking to people about their lives.

“Fran is duly respected and admired by so many and has played a pivotal role in supporting future generations of journalists and presenters, within and beyond the ABC.”