Overlooked Tony Jones says he doesn’t want Peter Hitchener’s job

Tony Jones says he’s at peace with Channel 9’s decision to overlook him as Peter Hitchener’s heir apparent, revealing he didn’t really want the job anyway.

Tony Jones has laughed that he’s no longer “No.2” after confirmation that he’s not the heir apparent to the Nine newsreading job.

Veteran Melbourne presenter Peter Hitchener will now read bulletins four nights a week next year, with Alicia Loxley reading from Friday-Sunday.

“The Sunday Footy Show boys will have to come up with a new gag now that I’m not “No.2”,’’ Jones said.

Hitchener and Alicia Loxley. Picture: Darren McNamara

The news that ‘Hitch’, 75, will read from Monday-Thursday was reported in The Australian on Monday and has been confirmed by Nine as a move to prolong Hitchener’s career.

Jones said on Monday while filling in for Neil Mitchell on 3AW: “I can say this, hand on heart, about a year ago — and it wouldn’t be an epiphany or anything like that — I just thought it’s not what I want to do. It’s not where I want to go”.

“The problem was if it had’ve been offered, I would have said, ‘Well, yeah.’ But my heart of hearts told me I wasn’t the person for the job.”

Jones presents sport on Nine, covers 3AW shifts for Mitchell, hosts the Sunday Footy Show and contributes to Today.

“I thought this is definitely what I want to do,’’ he said.

“I like this working lifestyle. Having said that, Nine have decided it wasn’t me anyway. So it was all academic.

“But the conversation we had, it could never be more mutual if you tried and can I tell you I will probably retire before Hitch does. And if Hitch does retire before me, then I’ll have the pleasure of working alongside three of the best: Brian Naylor, Peter Hitchener and Alicia Loxley who’s a wonderful person and a magnificent news reader.”

The ever popular Hitch joined Nine in 1973 and took over as chief newsreader in December 1998 when Brian Naylor retired.