Sarah Macdonald is set to return to ABC 702 Sydney as host of the Afternoons show starting March of the following year. This comes less than two years after her contract was not renewed by the station amid public outcry. She will replace James Valentine, who hosted the program for over two decades before his death earlier this year. Macdonald expressed emotional sentiments about taking on Valentine’s role and emphasized that she discussed the position with Valentine’s widow, Joanne Corrigan, before accepting it.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Radio presenter Sarah Macdonald is returning to 702 Sydney in March 2027 to host the Afternoons program, a role previously held by her friend James Valentine before his death in April. Macdonald, who hosted Weekend Nightlife and Evenings before taking over Mornings in 2023, was unexpectedly axed from her position last year. Since then, she has been podcasting and writing a book. The station's other presenters—Craig Reucassel on Breakfast, Hamish Macdonald on Mornings, and Thomas Oriti on Drive—are set to continue their roles next year, with more lineup announcements expected later in the year.
Written for “Sarah Macdonald Returns To Radio” on 2026-10-06,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Less than two years after her shock axing, the ABC has confirmed that radio presenter Sarah Macdonald is returning to 702 Sydney in a different timeslot.
asserted
Macdonald → confirm → timeslot
The former Mornings host is taking over Afternoons from next March.
asserted
host → take → March
It’s the show that James Valentine hosted with warmth and wit for more than two decades, other than during a brief stint on Breakfast, before his diagnosis with oesophageal cancer.
asserted
Valentine → ’ → cancer
The much-loved Valentine died in April, with Afternoons co-hosted this year by James O’Loghlin and Kathryn Robinson.
asserted
Afternoons → love → O’Loghlin
The ABC says they will “remain regular voices” on the station.
asserted
they → say → station
There was an outcry in late 2024 when the popular Macdonald, who had hosted Weekend Nightlife and Evenings before Mornings, revealed that the ABC would not be renewing her contract.
asserted
ABC → be → contract
Hamish Macdonald, another popular ABC personality, took over Mornings last year.
asserted
Macdonald → take → Mornings
Since then, Sarah Macdonald has been podcasting, appearing weekly on Mark Levy’s show on 2GB and writing a book that she describes as “sort of a sequel to Holy Cow!”, her 2002 book on India.
asserted
she → podcast → India
“James and I were friends and I deeply miss him,” she said of the new role.
asserted
she → miss → role
“I feel really honoured to be stepping into his shoes, his seat, his microphone.
asserted
I → feel → shoes
It’s very emotional – it’s a lot – and I hope to do him proud.”
asserted
I → ’ → him
Macdonald said that when ABC managing director Hugh Marks texted her on April Fools’ Day to ask if she would like to have a chat, she thought it was a friend playing a prank.
asserted
it → say → prank
“I appreciated that it came from him, really,” she said.
asserted
she → appreciate → him
“I think that he was getting hassles when he was going out occasionally from the public, so he was interested to find out what was going on and whether I’d consider coming back.
asserted
I → think → public
“But it’s taken a while to work it all out [and] put my heart back into it.”
asserted
it → take → it
Before accepting the new show, Macdonald discussed it with Valentine’s widow, clinical psychologist Joanne Corrigan.
asserted
Macdonald → accept → widow
“I really needed her blessing,” she said.
asserted
she → need → blessing
“She’s not James, of course, but I know what James would say: ‘Well, do you want to do it or not?
asserted
you → ’ → it
It’s up to you, kid.’
asserted
It → ’ → you
”
So does Macdonald still have any bad blood about her axing?
asserted
Macdonald → have → axing
She laughed.
asserted
She → laugh → ?
“I’ll never really completely know what happened,” she said.
asserted
she → know → ?
“I’m just choosing to be really optimistic and hopeful and do the job …
asserted
I → choose → job
I had to come back with an open heart and an open mind and I am.”
asserted
I → have → heart
Macdonald praised “brilliant new station manager” Nick Lowther.
asserted
Macdonald → praise → manager
“We didn’t have a station manager off and on for quite a while there but Nick is amazing,” she said.
asserted
she → have → while
While ABC management would not comment on whether it had made a mistake axing her and how it felt about Mornings ratings since her departure, Lowther said he was thrilled to welcome her back.
asserted
he → comment → her
“Sarah is one of those broadcasters who builds a genuine, lasting bond with her audience,” he said.
asserted
he → build → audience
“She has an instinct for the conversations people want to have, and a warmth that comes through every time she’s on air.
asserted
she → have → air
While Craig Reucassel will continue in Breakfast, Hamish Macdonald on Mornings and Thomas Oriti on Drive next year, the ABC has flagged more announcements about the station’s line-up later in the year.
asserted
ABC → continue → year
Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday.
asserted
Watchlist → get → ?
The Aporia
