ABC announcer Red Symons has quit his breakfast show after bosses said he would not continue in the role in 2018.

Symons, the former guitarist for Aussie rockers Skyhooks, had been in the role for 15 years but was told he would no longer be required.

Instead, Symons has tended his resignation despite the ABC offering to find him another role at the broadcaster. Symons has not said what he would do next.

“This will be my last year doing this program on the ABC,” Symons told listeners this morning. “Why am I going? They haven’t said, and I haven’t asked.”

In a statement, an ABC spokesperson said: “There is no one like Red Symons. His unique take on the world and his endless curiosity about the world around him has kept audiences tuning in for 15 years.

“Without doubt, he will be hugely missed both on-air by his legion of fans and off-air by all his ABC colleagues. We wish him the very best for the future.”

In June, Symons found himself in hot water over an interview with ABC Radio podcaster Beverley Wang, in which he asked the presenter if she was “yellow” and “What’s the deal with Asians?”.