Nine’s Peter Hitchener will take a step back from reading the weeknightly bulletin

One of Australia’s most recognisable newsreaders will make a dramatic move next year.

Beloved Melbourne newsreader Peter Hitchener will appear less on our screens from 2022, but the 75-year-old is far from out of the picture entirely.

Hitchener will go from five nights a week down to four reading Channel Nine’s 6pm bulletin, with colleague Alicia Loxley tipped to take over the Friday slot.

A source told The Australian, “He’s won the ratings 10 years in a row. This is a way of extending his career, not shortening it. We want him to do it forever.”

Nine’s Peter Hitchener will go from reading the news five nights a week down to four. Picture Jay Town

While retirement may not be on the cards for “Hitch” just yet, health issues did catch up with him in March of this year when he was unable to complete a bulletin due to what was later described as a migraine.

However, after taking just one additional night off to rest and recover the beloved journalist quickly returned to screens to deliver the nightly news as he has done since 1998.

Viewers can still catch him in his iconic role every Monday to Thursday.