Andrew Lofthouse

{{Short description|Australian broadcaster}} thumb| {{Use Australian English|date=January 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}

'''Andrew Lofthouse''' (born 2 June 1962)<ref>{{cite web |title=Andrew Lofthouse |url=https://cabooltureshs.eq.edu.au/Ourcommunity/Paststudents/Pages/Andrew-Lofthouse.aspx |access-date=1 September 2017 |publisher=Caboolture State High School}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Downes |first=Melissa |date=2021-06-02 |title=If you could see under the desk @9newsqueensland you might catch a peek of @loftea9 birthday present 🎁 socks with photos of his two greyhounds 🤣🤣 Happy Birthday to my desk buddy!!! |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CPnBngZNT-k/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mageros |first=Adriana |date=2025-01-20 |title=Veteran Nine News Qld anchor Andrew Lofthouse announces retirement to focus on health after 17 years at the broadcaster |url=https://www.skynews.com.au/business/media/veteran-nine-news-queensland-anchor-andrew-lofthouse-announces-retirement-to-focus-on-health-after-17-years-at-the-broadcaster/news-story/37afa819c5a085fa9ed990caf8afb1e3#:~:text=In%20a%20statement%20released%20by%20the%20network,due%20to%20a%20health%20concern. |access-date=2025-03-30}}</ref> is a former television and radio newsreader based in Brisbane, Australia. The former teacher was formerly the weeknight presenter of ''Nine News Queensland'' with Melissa Downes between 2009 and 2024. Prior to working at ''Nine News'', he presented the weekday evening news bulletin of ''ABC News Queensland'', as well as reading the news on the 612 ABC Brisbane radio station on weekday afternoons. {{citation needed|date=June 2012}}

== Career == Lofthouse started his broadcasting career at a community radio station on the Gold Coast and began working for ABC Radio (in Rockhampton) in 1990. He moved to ABC Radio Brisbane (then called 612 4QR, now 612 ABC Brisbane) at the end of 1993. In 2003, he began working on ABC television (whilst also reading ABC Radio news bulletins).<ref name=not7oclock/>

Lofthouse is also a musician with the alternative rock band Let's Go Naked which has appeared in concerts in Brisbane and released an album, ''Insides''.<ref name=not7oclock>{{cite news |first=Neil |last=Hickey |url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22493521-7642,00.html |title=Not the seven o'clock news |work=The Courier-Mail |date=27 September 2007 |access-date=28 November 2008 }}</ref>

In November 2008, Lofthouse departed from ''ABC News'', and joined the ''Nine News Queensland'' team from early 2009 as presenter of the weekend news bulletin,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2008/11/lofty-says-good.html |title=Lofty says goodbye to Aunty after 18 years |author=Spencer Howson |author-link=Spencer Howson |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=28 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081228232159/http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2008/11/lofty-says-good.html |archive-date=28 December 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> replacing Melissa Downes who moved to weeknight presenting. He presented his last ''ABC News'' bulletin on 28 November 2008.<ref>{{cite video |title=ABC News Queensland |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=28 November 2008|medium=Television programme }}</ref> From 2009, Lofthouse began presenting on weekends with Eva Milic.

In June 2009, Lofthouse took over from Bruce Paige as weeknight presenter of ''Nine News Queensland'', joining Downes on the desk. After several years in the ratings wilderness, together they would take the bulletin back to the top of the local ratings by 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2013/11/nail-biter-in-brisbane-news-battle.html|title=Nail biter in Brisbane news battle|publisher=TV Tonight|first=David|last=Knox|date=19 November 2013|access-date=11 May 2017}}</ref>

In January 2025, Lofthouse announced his immediate retirement from reading television news.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2025/01/andrew-lofty-lofthouse-retires-from-nine-news.html|title=Andrew ‘Lofty’ Lofthouse retires from Nine News|publisher=TV Tonight|first=David|last=Knox|date=20 January 2025|accessdate=20 January 2025}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{s-media}} {{succession box | title = ''ABC News Queensland'' Weeknight presenter | before = Rod Young | after = David Curnow | years = 2002 – December 2008 }} {{succession box | title = ''Nine News Queensland'' Weekend presenter with Eva Milic | before = Melissa Downes | after = Heather Foord | years = January 2009 – June 2009 }} {{succession box | title = ''Nine News Queensland'' Weeknight presenter with Melissa Downes | before = Bruce Paige | after = Joel Dry | years = June 2009 – November 2024 }} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lofthouse, Andrew}} Category:Australian musicians Category:Australian television newsreaders and news presenters Category:Australian radio personalities Category:Living people Category:Mass media people from Brisbane Category:Year of birth uncertain Category:1960s births