James Valentine to follow Wendy Harmer and Robbie Buck as new ABC Sydney Radio Breakfast host

A familiar face will be stepping into the soon-to-be-vacated Breakfast position on ABC Radio Sydney.

Afternoons presenter James Valentine has been announced as the new host, taking over from Wendy Harmer and Robbie Buck.

On October 1, the duo announced they would not be returning to the show in 2022, after spending three years together.

Valentine said he was “beyond excited” to take the top spot.

“When I first worked at the station in the mid-90s, it was Clive Robertson, then Phil Clarke, with Andrew Olle on afterwards. Angela Catterns, Adam Spencer, Wendy and Robbie — that’s a legacy to build on and I’m excited and grateful for the opportunity,” he said.

“I know I’m going to love doing Breakfast. It’s a completely different time of the day, so it will be completely different radio.”

Valentine is an author and musician who has been a presenter with ABC Radio for more than 20 years.

Harmer and Buck’s show became the second-most popular in Sydney’s competitive breakfast radio market and increased its audience share by more than two points to 14 per cent in the latest ratings survey.

Regular commentator Josh Szeps will take on Valentine’s show, which was announced as the most listened to afternoon show in the recent Radio Ratings Survey.

Along with those changes, an extra hour will be allotted to Cassie McCullagh’s morning show.

ABC Radio Sydney Manager, Melanie Withnall said the year ahead was “strong” for the station.

“Our presenters for next year are well-known and well-loved and are all capable of delivering entertaining, informing and, at times, surprising content,” she said.

Harmer and Buck’s final broadcast is scheduled for Friday, December 10.

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