New Sky News show The Jury will debate big issues, while Sharri Markson moves to prime time

A new addition to the 2024 Sky News line-up, The Jury, promises to get the perspective of ordinary Australians on the topics that affect them with robust but respectful debate.

A new debate show on the Sky News 2024 programming line-up is designed to combat political correctness, give ordinary Aussies a voice and revive the dying art of disagreement.

The Jury, which premieres next month, will be hosted by journalist Danica De Giorgio and will invite two guests to debate a wide range of hot-button issues, from the cost of living crisis to nuclear power and gender identity to censorship.

It will be filmed in front of a live studio audience and a jury of 12 “everyday Aussies, mums and dads, grandparents, people from all walks of life”, who will then deliver their verdict on the day’s topic.

“Debate isn’t black and white, there are multiple sides to every story,” said De Giorgio. “We are going to explore those sides. We don’t want to hear the government spin. The Jury will cut to the chase and get perspectives from experts in the field, as well as some of your favourite Sky News contributors. It’s about starting a conversation on the issues that matter to Australians, and issues they have an opinion about, but have not been able to voice.”

Also coming to Sky News this year will be a new show from commentator Steve Price at 6pm on Fridays, and Politics Now, hosted by Chief Election Analyst Tom Connell, which will air at 3.15pm during Parliamentary sitting weeks and will feature a panel of leading political journalists including Kieran Gilbert, Andrew Clennell and Ashleigh Gillon, to scrutinise the day’s most pressing topics and issues being debated in Question Time.

Commentator Steve Price will get his own show on Fridays at 6pm.

Sky News Digital will also launch a new long-form interview series Conversations with Laura Jayes on SkyNews.com.au, in which the respected journalist will unpack the lives and careers of some of the world’s most interesting and influential people.

Journalist Cheng Lei, who returned to Australia last year after spending three years in a Chinese prison, has also joined the team as presenter and SkyNews.com.au columnist.

News Corp journalist Sharri Markson will move to the 8pm prime time slot Monday-Thursday with her agenda-setting program Sharri. The author of What Really Happened in Wuhan, two-time Walkley Award winner, and mother of two, said she was looking forward to the challenge of covering local issues such as the cost of living crisis and the Australian economy as well as global stories including Israel’s war on Hamas and the US election later this year.

“Prime time is an incredible opportunity to interact with an engaged audience, after dinner is finished or the kids are in bed and people are sitting back to relax,” Markson said. “It also means I’ll be handing over responsibility for our kids’ bedtime to my husband – I’m not sure which of us is the most apprehensive about that.

Sharri Markson, host of the Sky News program Sharri, is looking forward to another year of breaking exclusives.

“I’m striving for another year of breaking major news stories and holding the Albanese Government to account. The show is a reflection of my journalism; it’s hard-hitting, unapologetic, at times controversial and always packed with exclusives.”

Chris Kenny will kick off the weekday prime time line-up in his heritage 5pm slot for The Kenny Report, followed by Credlin at 6pm and The Bolt Report at 7pm. Veteran Paul Murray will return for his 14th year with Sky News Australia’s longest-running opinion program, Paul Murray Live from Sunday to Thursday and will once again hit the road to visit regional and rural communities in Paul Murray Live Our Town.

For those up late, James Macpherson, Liz Storer and Caleb Bond will host The Late Debate at 10pm from Monday to Thursday, while the hard-hitting, headline-generating Piers Morgan Uncensored will air at 11pm from Tuesday to Friday.

Chris Kenny, Laura Jayes, Paul Murray, Peta Credlin, Kieran Gilbert, Andrew Bolt and Peter Stefanovic from Sky News.

Paul Whittaker, Sky News Australia, Chief Executive Officer, said: “At a time of significant local and international news events, our line-up of award-winning journalists and opinion leaders will deliver audiences quality journalism and informed and diverse views on the issues they care about across our growing multiplatform news network.

“With the imminent launch of the SkyNews.com.au Streaming Subscription service, 2024 is set to be an exciting year in the evolution of our digital journey, while across broadcast platforms we will continue to bring Australians a premium viewing experience.”