‘That doesn’t happen, does it?’ Tony Armstrong on dealing with criticism, his new role and why he ‘doesn’t read the bad sh*t’

As he prepares for his big new TV role, Tony Armstrong reflects on his departure from the job that made him famous — and why he doesn’t buy into criticism.

Punctuated by countless red hearts and fire emojis, the social media reaction last month to the big reveal of Tony Armstrong and Courtney Act as SBS’s new Eurovision hosts was effusive. “Perfect pairing!” “Great choice!!!” “Name a better hosting duo … I’ll wait.”

“That doesn’t happen, does it?” Armstrong, who left his day job on ABC News Breakfast last October, asks about that almost universally positive feedback.

“The thing is, in the same way that it’s good not to read the bad sh*t, I don’t read the good sh*t, either.”

His caution is warranted. This year’s show, in the Swiss city of Basel, will see him and Act take over from comedian Joel Creasey and music media veteran Myf Warhurst, whose tenure – having assumed the hosting mantle from beloved duo Sam Pang and Julia Zemiro in 2017 – divided the Australian Eurovision community.

Tony Armstrong says he doesn’t read ‘the good sh*t or the bad sh*t’ online. Picture: Nick Wilson

And although Armstrong says he isn’t “entirely a first-time viewer” of the world’s biggest song contest, the indie-rock aficionado didn’t exactly have it on the must-watch list.

Fortunately, his incoming on-air partner is a seasoned campaigner. Act made her Eurovision presenting debut last year as SBS’s backstage correspondent, served as Australia’s jury spokesperson in 2022, and was a competing performer with her song ‘Fight For Love’ at the 2019 Australia Decides selection show.

Tony Armstrong with his girlfriend, Rona Glynn-McDonald, at the Logies. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Posing with his Logie for the Bert Newton Award (AKA Most Popular Presenter) in 2023. Picture: Getty Images

Since becoming part of the SBS Eurovision family, Act has become a self-proclaimed stats queen, devouring each song entry and fan reaction video as they drop and following all of the contestants on social media.

“I think the message that I’ve understood and I want to communicate to people who are Eurovision fans or thinking about being a Eurovision fan,” Act tells The Binge Guide, “is that in a crazy world full of polarisation and things to be depressed about, there’s something so lovely about making Eurovision a hobby. I guess that’s what sporting fans feel, that sense of being in on the journey.”

Armstrong is set up to be the everyman foil to Act, who nonetheless has been schooling him on the historical Eurovision voting blocs, genre trends – like ballads versus novelty songs – and staging tricks that influence each year’s result.

He says it has been a full immersion experience, including bingeing past broadcasts, but adds he’s embracing all of the drama.

That includes perpetuating the big rumour that Celine Dion may make a special guest appearance this year since, before non-binary artist Nemo claimed the 2024 title in Sweden with ‘The Code’, the Canadian superstar was the last Swiss entry to win Eurovision, back in 1988.

’We’re there because it’s fun and we want to be there.’ Courtney Act and Tony Armstrong. Picture: Nick Wilson

“Man, I’m conflating everyone saying it would be good if she did it with rumours she’s going to do it,” he says, laughing.

“The thing is, Celine Dion is so funny and I reckon Eurovision is something she would do [again].”

Both hosts deliver a little eye-roll, however, when asked how they will answer the perennial question from non-fans about why Australia is even competing at the Eurovision Song Contest, something the nation has done since Guy Sebastian performed ‘Tonight Again’ in Vienna in 2015 and Dami Im almost won in Stockholm with ‘Sound Of Silence’ in 2016.

The duo appear on the cover of The Binge Guide. Picture: Nick Wilson

“We’re there because it’s fun and we want to be there,” Act insists.

“It’s been on the telly in Australia since 1983, Australians love it, and there are countries not on the European continent, most famously the UK now, who compete at Eurovision.

“The literal reason in the rule book is participants have to be selected via a public broadcaster who broadcasts Eurovision, and SBS has done that since the 1980s, so we qualify,” she points out.

“If you’re familiar with SBS budgets … I don’t know if it’s for our money!”

The Eurovision Song Contest airs live from May 14 to 18 on SBS and SBS On Demand. See the full interview and cover story with Tony Armstrong in The Binge Guide today, via The Sunday Telegraph (NSW), Sunday Herald Sun (VIC), The Sunday Mail (QLD) and Sunday Mail (SA).

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