After announcing his departure from Q+A, Hamish Macdonald will be returning to 10, co-hosting The Sunday Project.
Macdonald left 10 eighteen months ago to join the ABC, but resigned earlier this week. Q+A has been struggling in the ratings since Macdonald took the helm while The Australian has run – as B&T put it – “a concerted campaign” against the show.
The ABC and Macdonald have seemingly left on good terms though, with Gaven Morris, the network’s director of news saying: “Everyone at the ABC thanks Hamish for the incredible job he has done.”
As part of his statement on the ABC website, Macdonald said, “I’m really excited to be moving on to a new opportunity, and working more with the ABC in the future,” indicating audiences could potentially be seeing him across both networks.
Now, in a statement from 10, Macdonald has said: “I am over the moon to be returning to 10 and thrilled about the opportunity to make great local and international content with this dynamic group of producers and presenters.”
“It is also a total joy to be heading back to the desk with Lisa, Tommy and the people I love so much.”
“Finding innovative ways to tell stories from Australia and around the world is what I love doing and I can’t wait to get stuck into it.”
Sarah Thornton, head of popular factual, Network 10, said: “We have always considered Hamish part of our family here at The Project, and we are thrilled to welcome him home. Hamish is an outstanding journalist and his skill and passion as a broadcaster make him a valued addition to our hosting line-up on The Project.”
“Hamish will also be back on the road, where he is peerless, telling extraordinary stories and connecting with people in Australia and around the globe. As the world and the media landscape change, and as storytelling comes to the fore, never have Hamish’s talents been more important. I’m excited for what the future holds with Hamish back at 10.”
Macdonald will begin appearing on The Sunday Project and on Friday episodes of The Project in SEptember 2021.
