Patricia Karvelas, Richard Glover, Robbie Buck: The big names leaving ABC’s radio waves in 2024

Australia’s radio industry is set for a major shake-up in 2025, with a slew of broadcast veterans and listener favourites bidding farewell to their studios and loyal audiences before the end of the year.

In what seems to be a changing of the guard for the often stubborn industry, decades of experience will be leaving the airwaves in the new year to usher in a fresh cohort of radio talent.

While some stations are shuffling their decks in either an obvious attempt to claw back dwindling listener ratings, others are simply making changes for the sake of it.

But some of them are being left to find the right talent to fill the enormous, empty shows of veteran broadcasters calling time on decades-long careers.

The ABC, alone, is losing more than 60 years of radio experience between three presenters.

Robbie Buck was the latest high-profile name to announce his departure from the broadcaster, telling his Songs & Stories listeners on Monday that he would be “stepping back from the ABC” after a 28-year career.

“I am hoping to still have a toe in the water here on the airwaves, and so I’m hoping to pop up from time to time, but it just seems like it’s the right time for me to step back,” he said on Monday’s program.

Buck’s announcement came after a number of other big ABC characters flagged their final shows with the broadcaster.

Leading the departing class is Richard Glover who has retired from the radio waves after 26 years at the helm of ABC Radio Sydney Drive. Glover announced his retirement in October, telling audiences he had “hogged” what he considered “one of the best jobs in Australian journalism” for long enough.

Respected journo Chris Bath will take the driver’s seat in Glover’s stead, while comedian Charlie Pickering will present the once-a-week Thank God It’s Friday! — a variety show segment of Drive originated by Glover in 1998.

Meanwhile, Radio National stalwart Patricia Karvelas also announced she will be leaving that arm of the broadcaster after 10 years, including the last three leading the flagship political radio program RN Breakfast. She will be replaced by award-winning journo Sally Sara who will be joined by political correspondent Melissa Clarke, business correspondent Peter Ryan, and news presenter Luke Siddham Dundon.

Karvelas was not the only morning host to leave, ABC Radio Sydney Mornings presenter Sarah MacDonald told listeners she would not be returning in 2025, while ABC Radio Melbourne Breakfast presenter, comedian Sammy J bid farewell to listeners last month after five years at the station.

MacDonald’s announcement on-air stunned listeners and ABC staff alike, including Media Watch Host Paul Barry who took to X to express his disbelief that the ABC had “dumped” the respected presenter.

Sammy J is set to be replaced by Bob Murphy and Sharnelle Vella; while MacDonald’s replacement has not yet been announced.

But the ABC is not alone in shuffling its line-ups in the new year, with a number of big names across the commercial broadcasters announcing their departures, too.

Two titans of the industry John Laws, known as the ‘Golden Tonsils’ of Australian Radio, and Ray Hadley both announced they would retire before the end of 2024. Between them, the men had more than 110 years of radio experience.

Laws, 89, announced his retirement to 2SM listeners very casually in October, saying it was “time for a rest” after 71 years of broadcasting.

Hadley, 70, told his 2GB listeners he would end his 43-year career on December 1, saying he wished to spend more time with his wife, children, and grandchildren.

“It’s been a hell of a ride, from a young bloke wanting to call the races to being the old bloke sitting in this studio for so long,” he said.

“But the time has come for someone else to do the job.”

A number of other big radio stars have been unceremoniously chopped from future line-ups, including Triple M’s daytime presenter Brendan Annakin and media personally Gus Worland — both cut from Triple M, after 12 and 16 years of service, respectively — and popular KIIS FM talent Mitch Churi,

Triple M has also reportedly axed long-time presenter and former NRL great Mark ‘MG’ Geyer, according to The Daily Telegraph.