The new line up for ABC News Breakfast was revealed on air this morning, with James Glenday to join Bridget Brennan on the couch in 2025.

Catherine Murphy becomes Brekky’s full-time Sports Presenter, joining regulars Nate Byrne, Charles Brice and Emma Rebellato.

The full new line-up will be on air from Monday 20 January.

James takes over from outgoing co-host Michael Rowland, whose last day on the program will be Friday 13 December, and Catherine replaces Tony Armstrong. 

“The chance to join News Breakfast and take over from Michael Rowland, a beloved colossus of Australian broadcasting, is an offer I couldn’t refuse,” says James. 

“It will be a beautiful thing to present the show with Bridget, a long-time friend and fellow millennial. We’re quite different people, but for some inexplicable reason she tolerates my terrible jokes, so we get along well.

“ABC News Breakfast is the natural place for the biggest names in Australia to come to share their news and stories. I can’t wait to begin work with the very talented team.”

Currently in Dublin following the Wallabies for Summer Grandstand, Catherine Murphy sent this message to viewers: 

“I’m so excited to join the program on a full-time basis,” she says. “I’ve loved working with the team when I’ve filled in and I’m so excited for 2025. News Breakfast is the only show I’d set my alarm at 3am for. Goodbye midweek social life. I love you so much, but it’s time to break up.” 

Justin Stevens, ABC Director, News: “We’re delighted to welcome James to the News Breakfast couch. As well as being an experienced journalist James is a terrific and natural presenter who has already developed a warm connection with News Breakfast viewers. 

“The new line-up of James and Bridget with Nate, Catherine, Emma and Charles will continue Brekky’s great tradition of providing the most robust, trusted, hefty, interesting and entertaining news in Australian media each morning.”

ABOUT JAMES GLENDAY:

James joined the ABC as a cadet in 2010 in Darwin. He met Bridget on his first day and they have been friends ever since.

For the past two years, James has been the face of the ABC in the Canberra region, presenting the nightly 7PM news.

Before that he was the National Affairs Editor at Parliament House and spent six years, across two stints, in the Press Gallery.

James was also a Europe and North America correspondent, reporting from more than 40 countries during five years abroad with the ABC.

He has filled in for Michael Rowland on the breakfast couch in Melbourne and as a host on weekend breakfast many times over the past three years.

James grew up in Dubbo, NSW and is a big fan of regional Australia.

ABOUT CATHERINE MURPHY:

Catherine Murphy started her career in the sports department of Ireland’s national broadcaster RTÉ, before moving to Australia in 2006 to work with Fox Sports.

In 2018, Catherine joined the ABC where she’s worked with a number of programs across TV and radio including co-hosting Monday’s Experts with Tony Armstrong and The Cat and Matt Show on ABC Radio Melbourne with Matt Preston. She’s also a regular panellist on Offsiders.