Dumped ABC presenter Sarah Macdonald surprised fans when she returned to the airwaves this week and revealed her future plans.
The popular 58-year-old presenter was pulled from her breakfast slot last month, but once again returned to the airwaves on Friday to discuss her new career path.
In a big departure from radio, Sarah said she plans to turn her attention to online writing and plans to use the Substack platform to publish articles.
Closing The Mornings show on Friday, Sarah promised fans they would see her again as she promised to “appear in new and diverse ways.”
“I’m getting some rest and calm, but I’m also focusing on the future,” she said.
‘It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later, to chat with you in some way and be with people. I have an Instagram account that people can check out.”
Dumped ABC presenter Sarah Macdonald surprised fans when she returned to the airwaves this week and revealed her future plans as she steps away from radio.
“Maybe I’ll write a little, I’ll do a Substack, but for now I just want to have a nice Christmas with my family,” he added.
Sarah is already the author of several books, including the 2002 non-fiction bestseller Holy Cow an Indian Adventure, which sold 70,000 copies.
Sarah also gave listeners an update on how she’s been doing following her shock, saying: ‘I’m fine, it’s been a big couple of weeks.
“When I said on air a few weeks ago that I wouldn’t be back next year and that ABC management decided not to renew my contract, I expected a bit of a reaction, but not what happened.
‘It’s been absolutely overwhelming, the love and support since that announcement. It’s been amazing. It’s been a lot.’
The ABC 702 star’s firing sparked an uproar among fans, with thousands signing a petition demanding his return.
Sarah, who has been on three weeks’ leave since her firing, also addressed why she has been absent from the air since learning ABC would not renew her contract.
‘I just had to be silent. And I just had to not speak. And I had to get away from the intensity of it all. “I have been almost silent,” he shared.
While his permanent replacement has not been revealed, Hamish Macdonald (pictured) has been tipped as the leading contender to take over the breakfast show.
‘I really felt the love, but I needed to find my peace and my strength. And I just didn’t feel like I could deliver a show that listeners deserve and expect.’
Sarah’s place was filled by presenters Tim Webster and Emma Crowe during her absence.
While his permanent replacement has not been revealed, Hamish Macdonald has been considered the leading contender to take over the breakfast show, according to news.com.au.
The rumor emerged late last month, shortly after Sarah announced she had been fired from the Sydney show after more than three decades working with the national broadcaster.
Insiders claimed the broadcast journalist, 43, has the blessing of ABC boss Kim Williams, who succeeded Ita Buttrose as president of the national broadcaster in March.
Hamish is arguably best known for hosting Network 10’s The Project and working on ABC Radio National’s RN Breakfast show.
Despite Sarah’s departure causing a stir among fans, ABC boss Williams said he fully supported Sarah’s departure as ABC looks to revitalize its radio division under the leadership of audio director Ben Latimer.
“Changes in the media are part of life,” he recently told the National Press Club in Canberra. “They are part of the programming fabric of all organizations.”
Hamish is arguably best known for hosting Network 10’s The Project and working on ABC Radio National’s RN Breakfast show.
ABC staff were shocked by the move when it was announced alongside a series of sweeping changes to the taxpayer-funded service, and greeted the news with a round of boos at its Sydney headquarters.
However, Williams insisted that Sarah, well-liked and respected across the industry, was not fired, just that her job had been given to someone else.
“It is inaccurate to say that Sarah Macdonald has been fired,” he said. ‘His role has not been renewed. They are different conceptually.
‘Similarly, management has determined that it wants to take that service in a different direction.
‘That decision is a management decision, and I fully support our management in making relevant decisions regarding the direction and content of the services the ABC provides.
“So yes, I support that decision, I support the notion of refreshment in the various services that the ABC offers.”
ABC has reportedly been inundated with complaints since Sarah revealed she had been fired live on her show last week.
“Well, here’s news from me in terms of disappointment,” he told his listeners.
‘I’m not going to be on the radio with you next year, the ABC has decided not to renew my contract here at Mornings. I’m proud of what I’ve done. The ratings have gone up..