This was published 5 years ago
Virginia Trioli confirmed as Jon Faine's replacement at ABC radio Melbourne
By Broede Carmody
The ABC has confirmed News Breakfast presenter Virginia Trioli will replace Melbourne radio presenter Jon Faine when the veteran broadcaster retires later this year.
Virginia Trioli will move from ABC News Breakfast to take over Jon Faine's spot on ABC Melbourne radio.Credit: Eddie Jim
Faine, who has been the morning’s presenter at ABC Radio Melbourne for 23 years, announced in January he would be hanging up the headphones at the end of the year. Trioli was widely tipped to be his replacement and earlier this year told this masthead she would welcome the opportunity.
Trioli has hosted ABC News Breakfast since 2008. She has recently filled in for Faine as well as for Tony Jones on ABC TV’s Q&A.
Her shift to radio would mean a brief - but nonetheless welcome - sleep-in, after just over a decade of 3am starts.
Trioli described the Melbourne mornings timeslot as “one of the most precious radio jobs in the country”.
“Jon and the ABC Melbourne team, for more than two decades, have created an agenda-setting and community-building program that means so much not only to Melburnians, but to anyone who values great conversation and the vital need for the continuing contest of ideas,” she said.
Jon Faine will retire at the end of the year after 23 years on air.
“Radio is in my soul and I'm pinching myself that this once-in-a-career opportunity has come my way. Melbourne - we're going to make great radio together.”
Trioli is also the hot tip to replace Jones on Q&A when he leaves the program to move to China with his partner Sarah Ferguson who was made the ABC's China bureau chief earlier this year. The later starts for the morning radio slot will make it easier for Trioli to accommodate both roles.
An ABC spokeswoman said no decisions about a future host for Q&A had been made, nor had any decision been made about Trioli's replacement.
ABC Radio's Judith Whelan described Trioli as someone who would be able to bring “insight and clarity” to people’s busy schedules, along with a dose of humour.
"Virginia knows the issues, knows the subjects and most importantly knows Melbourne. She will take the program on to new heights in 2020, continuing to set the daily agenda in Melbourne, as it has done for the past 23 years. ABC Radio is thrilled to welcome Virginia back as one of our key presenters,” she said.
Trioli is no stranger to radio, having hosted the ABC Melbourne drive slot from 2000 to 2005. She began her media career at The Age in 1990 before going on to work for the public broadcaster and winning a string of awards, including two Walkleys.