- Sarah Macdonald dumped from ABC Radio
- Ex-Media Watch host Paul Barry stunned
A top ABC presenter has been unceremoniously dumped by the broadcaster.
Sarah Macdonald, host of Sydney Mornings on ABC Radio, will leave her position next month.
Ms Macdonald, 58, has worked on several flagship ABC programs, including Triple J and Radio National, throughout a long and successful career that started when she won a cadetship at ABC Radio News.
She also worked in television on programs such as Recovery, Race Around the World and Two Shot.
Ms Macdonald moved to India with her husband, ABC foreign correspondent Jonathan Harley, in 2000.
While there, she wrote her first book ‘Holy Cow! An Indian Adventure’, which became a best-seller.
Former Media Watch host Paul Barry posted on X that he ‘can’t believe this’.
‘IMHO (in my honest opinion) she’s brilliant, one of the best things on radio,’ he wrote.
Sarah Macdonald (pictured), host of Sydney Mornings on ABC Sydney, will leave her position next month
Former Media Watch host Paul Barry shared his disbelief that Macdonald had been sacked on X
Writer Nikki Gemmell posted on X that ‘Sometimes ABC radio gets it very very wrong’.
‘Not renewing the contract of Sarah Macdonald on 702 mornings is an absolute travesty,’ she wrote.
‘She’s beloved by her listeners, she’s lifted the ratings, the Fonz think she’s cool and the prime minister spills his secrets to her. Devastating news.’
Lisa McGregor, a producer for the ABC’s Australian Story, said the decision had left her in ‘shock’.
‘She’s lively, warm, informed, an excellent interviewer,’ Ms McGregor wrote.
‘She can do hard and soft news, pop culture & human stories. What on earth is the reason ABC? Bad decision.’
Daily Mail Australia contacted the ABC for comment.
