Three weeks ago, Kerry O’Brien announced he was to leave his position as host of ABC’s The 7.30 Report at the end of this year – with plans to return to the national broadcaster in a part-time role in 2011.
It has now been announced that O’Brien will be taking on the role of host of current affairs program Four Corners as it enters its fiftieth year on air.
Although Four Corners has traditionally had a host leading the show – with names including TV Week Gold Logie winner Michael Charlton, Mike Willesee, Caroline Jones, Andrew Olle and Liz Jackson over the years – it has been some years since the weekly program has had a host up front.
ABC news director Kate Torney welcomed the announcement of O’Brien’s new role:
“Kerry worked for Four Corners as a reporter in the 1970s and again in the 1980s, before presenting Lateline and then The 7.30 Report. This is a great way for Four Corners to mark such a major milestone in Australian journalism of 50 years on air.”
O’Brien will finish up on The 7.30 Report in December and will begin on Four Corners in February.
Meanwhile, as Four Corners prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary next year, viewers are asked to have their vote to determine how exactly the occasion should be celebrated. A poll on the Four Corners website presents the following options:
- ‘Best of Four Corners‘ Re-runs of your favourite programs
- Special program on 50 Years of Four Corners
- ‘Where are they now?’ Revisiting past stories
- Interviews with the people behind the programs
Suggestions or feedback can also be left on the Four Corners guestbook or Facebook page.
