Inside Peter Hitchener’s emotional final sign-off as the end of his era as 9’s nightly newsreader looms

Peter Hitchener is just days away from signing off from a role he has held for a quarter of a century, in what is sure to be an emotional final nightly bulletin.

Peter Hitchener says he is honoured to have had the privilege of delivering the Channel 9 nightly news bulletin for 25 years as he passes the baton to Alicia Loxley and Tom Steinfort.

Hitchener, 77, will step back next year after a quarter of a century in the top job to present the weekend news.

It was a decision he mulled over for months before deciding to make the move.

“I never thought of retiring and still don’t, although of course eventually everyone does,” Hitchener said.

Peter Hitchener will hand the baton to Alicia Loxley. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“I started thinking during the year, is there a way of just winding back a little bit?

“How wonderful that I have the opportunity to go on to weekends and keep doing what I love, which is reporting the news and sharing stories. Being part of a newsroom is just wonderful, there is nothing like it.

“I am most honoured to pass the baton on and wish them (Alicia and Tom) a very successful reign and a very successful time.

“It is an honour serving the audience, which is what we try to do, and I know they will manage wonderfully.”

As well as his 25 year milestone, 2023 marks an astonishing 50 years with the Nine Network for Hitchener.

Peter Hitchener in his early days. Picture: Supplied

His half century will be celebrated at a boardroom luncheon at Nine on Wednesday, attended by senior Nine executives and news colleagues, before he presents what is sure to be an emotional final nightly bulletin on Thursday, November 30.

“I have been incredibly lucky,” Hitchener said.

“There have been challenges along the way and in any career over 50 years you have high points and lower points, but I just love it and I have been so lucky to work with great people, amazing people.”

After joining Nine in 1973, where he was initially asked to audition for the game show Gambit, Hitchener moved to Melbourne in 1974 as a fill-in newsreader.

By 1976 he was reading the nightly bulletin alongside legendary newsreader Sir Eric Pearce, his mentor, which he did until Brian Naylor took over the bulletin in 1978.

Hitchener will present what is sure to be an emotional sign off on November 30. Picture: Instagram

Hitchener read the weekend news from 1979 – 1998.

“I had such a good time and enjoyed weekends so much that I am actually looking forward to going back to them,” he said.

“The great thing is stories don’t think about what day it is when they break, a big story will break whenever it is going to happen.”

Hitchener’s 50 year milestone was celebrated in style at a private celebrity studded party hosted by close friends in October. It garnered huge attention from media after guests flooded Instagram with photos and videos of the warm and loving celebration.