Why breakfast TV was too relaxed for ABC broadcaster Tony Armstrong
Broadcaster Tony Armstrong, 34, on why he left ABC News Breakfast, playing AFL and the biggest myth about hard work.
At one point growing up I wanted to … be in the circus. I learned how to juggle and do magic tricks. I changed my mind many times as a kid about what I wanted to do with my life. After the circus, I didn’t want to do anything for a while, and then I started wanting to play AFL.
When I started playing AFL … it was like I’d found my community. I took to it like a duck to water. It gave me a group of friends that I was probably missing a little bit before I started playing sports. That’s what I loved the most.
My decision matrix when I was young was … what’s the most fun thing I can do? Then, can I get away with it? Over time, I probably went into my shell a bit and didn’t live by that as much when I was playing AFL. But I feel like I’m having a comeback, I’m back to trying to do the things that I find fun. I’ve decided if I’m going to die on a hill, I might as well die on a hill that I choose.
The biggest difference between playing professional AFL and being on TV is … you’ve got no opposition. No one’s trying to stop you, everyone’s on the same team. If you are playing professional sport, say football last weekend, Swans will run out there and everyone’s got a direct opponent who’s trying to stop them doing what they do, and they’re the best in the world. So if I was to try to think of an analogy for the arts or entertainment, it would be like if Da Vinci had someone trying to knock a paintbrush out of his hand as he’s trying to work. Instead you’ve got producers on your team, you’ve got directors, you’ve got someone in your ear, you’ve planned it. Everyone’s trying to make each other look good. In my role I’m just the sum of the parts and all the work that’s happened.
The reason I left hosting ABC breakfast was … so I can have a sleep in. It was a decision about health and lifestyle. It’s pretty brutal getting up early in the morning every morning. I think as well, by no means have I mastered TV, but I think breakfast in itself wasn’t necessarily scaring me in the right way anymore. I mean I’m pretty relaxed on air and I think if I was to be any more relaxed, it’d be risky. That’s when mistakes happen.
One of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn is that … hard work doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll pay off. I think it’s the biggest myth we’re all told. Hard work gives you a chance. And the harder you work, the luckier you get, the more opportunity you get and the more ready you are for that moment when it comes. But it doesn’t mean everything. And I learned that with footy because I busted my ass, gave it everything I could, and I just wasn’t quite good enough.
Something I wanted to do for a long time was … shave my head. But I had to wait four or five months as we were filming a show. So when we shot the last thing for the show, I walked straight to the makeup room and said, “Someone shave my hair.’’ It was a Britney moment, kind of.
As a kid I loved … sci-fi books. I also loved the Magic Wishing Chair and the Magic Faraway Tree. So when I decided to write a kids’ book I wanted to write something like that. The big thing that I didn’t want to do was write a footy story or an Indigenous story. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but I thought everyone’s going to kind of expect that. The bones of the story fell out of my head pretty fast. I knew I wanted it to look technicolour and stand out. So the main character has pink hair, a mullet and a gap tooth. It was such a fun experience. We’ve already got the next one ready to go.
What I’m most looking forward to next is … going a bit slower. I got a little bit sick just from overwork, and that was obviously my body telling me, hey brother, you need to make a change. And like I said, it felt right with leaving ABC Breakfast. Three and a bit years is a good whack. It’s time to take the foot off the gas for a little bit.
Armstrong’s new children’s book, George the Wizard: Let Your Magic Shine, is out now.
This interview was conducted before Media Watch revealed Armstrong had done voiceover work for an insurance company. The ABC said there had been a misunderstanding with his external representatives. Armstrong declined to comment. He retains the ABC’s support.
