Derryn Hinch to return to TV with new Sky News show

Derryn Hinch will return to television next month with his own show following his federal election loss. And he has a warning for politicians now that he’s been an ‘insider’.

Derryn Hinch says it feels “weird but wonderful” to return to his roots with a new job in the media after a whirlwind three years as a federal Senator.

The Human Headline will be back on television next month with his own Sky News show, HINCH.

The 75-year-old says he has just one big regret from his time in politics - falling asleep on the first day.

Hinch was photographed having a snooze in the Senate chamber during the Governor-General’s welcoming address to the 45th Parliament.

“It’s the only time I did but I did,” he told News Corp this week. “I wasn’t faking it, I genuinely fell asleep.”

Derryn Hinch, known as The Human Headline, will be back on television next month with his own Sky News show, HINCH. Picture: Jason Edwards

He would urge Australians to keep voting for minor parties, despite acknowledging the Senate crossbench was “pretty colourful” when he was a member.

It featured, at different times, One Nation’s Pauline Hanson and Malcolm Roberts, Nick Xenophon, Fraser Anning, Cory Bernardi, Jacqui Lambie, and ex-One Nation senator Rod Culleton.

“They used to say the crossbench when I was there was like the bar scene ... in Star Wars and they probably weren’t far wrong,” Hinch said.

“I think the government is going to have a much easier time with this crossbench because they haven’t got so many different, diverse people.”

Independents and minor parties were like an “insurance policy” for Australians to help keep their politicians honest, he said.

Hinch lost his Senate seat when Australians went to the polls in May, but he has vowed to contest the 2022 election. Picture: AAP

In just three years, Hinch was able to work with the government to introduce a passport ban for convicted sex offenders to stop ‘sex tourism’ and his lobbying prompted the Coalition to look at developing a public register of sex offenders.

He also spearheaded a push to launch a Senate inquiry into transvaginal mesh implants, which it’s estimated could impact as many as 15,000 Australian women, and lobbied to overturn a photographic ban in the Senate.

But Hinch isn’t done yet. Aside from working on his 16th book and hosting his own show on Sky, Hinch has vowed to contest the 2022 election.

He also has a warning for politicians now that he’s been an ‘insider’.

“I think I’ll be able to give a bit more of an edge to political interviews,” he said.

“I’ve seen it from the inside. If any of the pollies start to give me any bull****, my bull**** detector is probably better than it was before I went to Canberra.”

HINCH will air on Thursday at 8pm AEST from July 4 on Sky News Live and Foxtel channels 103 and 600.