Popular ABC presenter Tony Armstrong has announced a major career move.
The 34-year-old Logie winner will release his first book next month.
Called George the Magician, it is a children’s picture book about a lonely wizard and his search for friends.
The TV presenter created the new volume together with illustrator Emma Sjaan Beukers.
Talking to him Courier mail On Friday, the former AFL star said he was first asked to write a book about his football career but opted to write a children’s book instead.
“It’s about my reading level,” he joked about his latest project, which is set to be released on September 25.
He added: “I love being in the fantasy world and being a bit silly,” he added.
“Children’s books just throw the rules out the window even more. It’s all about feelings and emotions, and that appealed to me: the only thing holding you together is yourself.”
Popular ABC presenter Tony Armstrong (pictured) has announced a major career move. The 34-year-old Logie award winner will publish his first book next month
Tony, who is a proud Gamilaroi man from New South Wales, said he wanted to write a football book or “necessarily” create An indigenous-led story.
“Mainly because I think that’s what people expected,” he explained.I like to zag when I’m expected to zigzag.
This comes after Tony Armstrong looked almost unrecognizable after debuting a new look on ABC News last week.
The Australian sports presenter, known for his wavy hair and signature moustache, appeared in a new… short haircut.
Created together with illustrator Emma Sjaan Beukers, the new volume is called George the Wizard and is an illustrated book for children. Pictured: the cover
While he has changed his hairstyle, the former AFL star has opted to keep his trademark moustache and beard.
The Sydney Swans star appeared on the ABC breakfast show to discuss sporting headlines, a regular role he has played since 2020.
His impressive television career earned him a nomination for the prestigious Gold Logie award last month, but he lost out to TV veteran Larry Emdur.
He was also in the running for the Most Popular Host award, but the Bert Newton award eventually went to Larry from The Morning Show in a landslide victory.
Tony’s ABC News Breakfast co-star Michael Rowland had previously joked that the TV star would have been “insufferable” had he received the award.
Speaking to the Courier Mail on Friday, the former AFL star said he was first approached to write a book about his football career but opted to write a children’s book instead. Pictured: Tony showing off his new look on ABC News last week
“To be honest, Tony will be absolutely unbearable if he wins the Gold Logie,” he joked before the big night.
‘His head will swell to an abnormal size and he will need little encouragement to display his shiny trophy.’
“I’m willing to deal with this every morning because I honestly think he deserves the highest honor in television. And this is no joke,” he added.
Tony made headlines this year after being nominated for a Gold Logie Award.
The handsome star has already won two Logies: in 2022 he scooped the Graham Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent and a year later he took home the Bert Newton Award for Most Popular Presenter.