In a major blow for Sky News, anchor David Speers is set to take over the ABC’s Insiders, according to current host Barrie Cassidy.
Speers will take over the role from Cassidy later in the year, beating a number of other ABC personalities for the role of its Sunday politics show.
Speers has been an anchor at Sky news for more than 10 years.
Cassidy confirmed the news on ABC News Breakfast this morning, however, a formal announcement has not been made by the ABC or Speers.
Cassidy said: “There has been no formal announcement and the bureaucracy gets in the way at times like this. But he will be there, eventually.”
The current Insiders host said he “couldn’t be more chuffed” with his replacement.
Cassidy is a former ABC chief political correspondent, as well as former press secretary for Bob Hawke. He has hosted Insiders since it premiered in 2001.
Other high-profile names who were in contention for the role include Radio National hosts Fran Kelly and Patricia Karvelas, ABC News Breakfast anchor Michael Rowland, and political commentator Annabel Crabb.
