Charles Croucher named Nine’s new political editor

Weekend Today co-host Charles Croucher has been named the new political editor for the Nine Network, taking over one of the most coveted roles in Australian political journalism.

Croucher, who has worked for Nine for more than a decade, replaces Chris Uhlmann, who retired earlier this year.

Nine’s new political editor Charles Croucher.Credit: Wolter Peeters

Uhlmann’s departure set off a wave of speculation about who would succeed him and several high-profile Australian media names were thought to be under consideration. The search process ultimately settled on Croucher.

“It’s a huge honour,” he said. “When you look at the people who have had this role in the last 40 years, it’s the giants. To attempt to follow in their footsteps is an exciting, daunting and challenging task.”

Croucher, who grew up in Branxton in the NSW Hunter Valley, has worked with Nine, the owner of this masthead, since 2010, when he joined 9News Darwin as a sports reporter and weekend anchor.

He moved to Melbourne in 2012 and joined A Current Affair as a reporter. He joined the team in Canberra in 2013 where he worked as a political reporter until 2018. Croucher has spent time as US correspondent for Nine and for the past two years worked as co-host of Weekend Today.

The role of chief political editor is one of the most highly regarded in Australian media. It was a position held by Laurie Oakes before his retirement in 2017, and more recently was held by Uhlmann.

Croucher said he spoke to Uhlmann and Oakes regularly, and that he would be taking what he learned from them into the new role. He also said he had learned a lot from the cameramen that have worked in Parliament House in Canberra for decades.

“I worked for five years under Laurie Oakes. I found him so thorough and deliberate. He also had this wicked sense of humour ... that made politicians feel uncomfortable and everyone else feel at ease,” he said.

“What Chris did was he saw long-term better than anyone I’ve ever worked with. He was talking about the threats of China ... and Russia before anything happened.”

Nine director of news and current affairs Darren Wick said the role was the company’s most important position.

“We’ve built the reputation at Nine News around excellent journalism and fearless commentary from Laurie Oakes and Chris Uhlmann,” Wick said. “Charles Croucher is a brilliant political reporter and analyst.

“We’re at a turning point in history as Australia defines its place in the world and our region where alliances are rapidly changing. Charles has excelled at every challenge throughout his career at Nine. He is the best person to break down the complicated language of politics and cut through the spin.”

Croucher said he would lean on Oakes and Uhlmann for guidance, but that his main focus would be cost of living.

“I worked on A Current Affair for a year - you get an appreciation for when people are doing it really tough and being on their side. It’s the lessons from that time that I’ll also be able to use in the day-to-day politics.”