Q+A host Hamish Macdonald farewells ABC after 18 months

A big name is leaving the ABC, with the national broadcaster confirming the shock announcement in a statement on Monday morning.

Hamish Macdonald is farewelling the ABC after 18 months with the national broadcaster.

The journalist anchored the ABC’s flagship discussion program Q+A, regularly presented RN Breakfast, hosted the Reef Live event, filed for Foreign Correspondent and reported from the field during the devastating 2020 bushfires.

“I am enormously grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given to host Q+A and to work alongside wonderful, talented and passionate people,” Macdonald wrote in a statement on Monday morning.

“I am really proud of what we’ve achieved together during these extraordinary times.”

Hamish Macdonald farewells the ABC after 18 months with the national broadcaster. Picture: ABC-TV.

Macdonald rose to fame on 10’s short-lived 6.30 with George Negusshow, where he was the main fill in.

Macdonald then became a regular on The Project before becoming co-host with Lisa Wilkinson on The Sunday Project.

The broadcast journalist hinted at working with the ABC in the future.

“I’m really excited to be moving on to a new opportunity and working more with the ABC in the future,” he said.

Hamish Macdonald previously co-hosted The Sunday Project with Lisa Wilkinson. Picture: ABC-TV

Macdonald steered Q+A through the initial coronavirus lockdown in 2020 and guided the program through the first timeslot change in its 13-year history to 8.30pm on Thursdays.

ABC news director Gaven Morris thanked Macdonald for his work.

“At one stage during the lockdown he was presenting a live panel discussion program that wasn’t allowed to have either an audience or panellists in the studio,” he wrote in a statement.

“His experience and versatility came to the fore.

“Hamish has long been a part of the ABC family and we look forward to continuing that relationship when opportunities arise.”

A rotation of the ABC’s presenters will continue to host Q+A.