Veteran journalist, author and broadcaster David Marr will replace Phillip Adams as the host of Radio National’s Late Night Live when Adams leaves the role after 33 years next month.
Adams, who turns 85 in July, is retiring early due to poor health.
“I had always planned to die at my microphone,” Adams said. “But I feel this would be unfair to the cleaners. So, I’m leaving the studio, Late Night Live and the ABC under what’s left of my own steam – with decades of happy memories.”
Marr, a former Guardian Australia contributor, is a Walkley award-winning writer who has edited the National Times. The 76-year-old is a former host of Media Watch and was an investigative journalist at Four Corners.
Marr’s recent book Killing for Country: A Family Story has been critically acclaimed and his biographies of Nobel prize-winning Australian author Patrick White and former chief justice Sir Garfield Barwick were equally well received.
“I’m honoured and terrified,” Marr said. “It’s going to be a ball.”
Marr said he accepted the gig because he had always loved the show which was beautifully prepared and presented.
“I love that combination of authority and fun,” Marr told ABC radio on Friday.
“I love the way that an interview always offers the possibility of profound surprise. That’s what I like to pursue. The way in our lives that we absorb what’s going on around us is through conversation – not through lectures. Of course, we read and keep up to date with newspapers and all that kind of thing. But conversation is the fundamental way that we learn about the world and I love those conversations.”
The RN manager, Dina Rosendorff, said replacing Adams after such an unrivalled career on the ABC airwaves was never going to be easy.
“While we celebrate Phillip’s career it is also exciting to welcome David, who I’m sure will resonate with the most intellectual and loyal radio audience in the country, the Gladdies and poddies,” she said.
“David is the right combination of intellect, curiosity and, of course, a wicked sense of humour. We are all delighted that he’s agreed to take up this role until the end of the year.”
Marr said he would host LNL until Christmas and would “see how it goes” before he committed to a longer-term role.
Adams, a former advertising executive and Australian film industry pioneer, who writes a regular column for the Weekend Australian, is arguably the most-loved broadcaster at the ABC.
His listeners, who he refers to as “Gladdies” – a reference to his imaginary single listener “Gladys” – will miss his in-depth interviews and irreverent style.
