{{Short description|Australian radio program}} {{use dmy dates|date=February 2021}} {{use Australian English|date=February 2021}} {{Infobox Radio Show | show_name = Radio National Breakfast | image = | imagesize = | format = [[News]]: analysis, commentary, features, interviews, specials | runtime = 105 min. weekdays;<br> including breaks | presenter = [[Sally Sara]] | home_station = [[ABC Radio National]] | country = Australia | first_aired = present incarnation began in 1999 | last_aired = ''present'' | website = {{URL|https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/}} | podcast = {{URL|https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/feed/2890356/podcast.xml}} }}
'''''Radio National Breakfast''''' and sometimes shortened to '''''Breakfast''''', is a national early morning news program in Australia, broadcast since 2005. The program is broadcast live in the [[Eastern states of Australia|eastern states]], and on delay in other states, on the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]'s [[Radio National]] network. It can also be listened to online.
First hosted by [[Peter Thompson (broadcaster)|Peter Thompson]] from 1994 to 2004, the program was subsequently hosted by [[Fran Kelly]] from 2005 to 2021. [[Patricia Karvelas]] from 2021 to 2024. Since mid-December [[Sally Sara]] has been hosting the program.
==History== The program was hosted by Peter Thompson from 1994, who took a break from the show between 1999 and 2002 before rejoining for a further two years. At the end of 2004 he left the show again, citing his reason for resignation as being simply too much work for one person.<ref>{{cite web | title=Peter Thompson to leave RN Breakfast | website=radioinfo | url=https://radioinfo.com.au/news/peter-thompson-leave-rn-breakfast | access-date=16 February 2021}}</ref> Fran Kelly took over as host in March 2005; she announced her retirement from the position on 21 October 2021, saying that after 17 years, she needed to reclaim her sleep.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-10-21|title=Fran Kelly announces she's leaving RN Breakfast|url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/fran-kelly-leaving-rn-breakfast/13596358|access-date=2021-10-20|website=ABC Radio National|language=en-AU}}</ref>
In December 2021, [[Patricia Karvelas]] was announced as Kelly's replacement.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mitchell|first=Thomas|date=2021-11-28|title=‘I don’t care about being popular with politicians’: Patricia Karvelas prepares to go off-script|url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/huge-shoes-to-fill-abc-presenter-patricia-karvelas-to-replace-fran-kelly-on-rn-breakfast-20211129-p59cya.html|access-date=2021-12-02|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-11-29|title=Patricia Karvelas announced as the new host of RN Breakfast|url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/patricia-karvelas-announced-new-host-rn-breakfast-fran-kelly/13653094|access-date=2021-12-02|website=ABC Radio National|language=en-AU}}</ref> The program is broadcast in two segments (6.00 to 7.00 and 7.30 to 9.00) before and after the current affairs program [[AM (ABC Radio)|AM]] at 7.00. Sally Sara or Steve Cannane host the show on Monday and [[Patricia Karvelas]] from Tuesday to Friday due to Karvelas hosting [[Q+A (Australian talk show)|''Q+A'']].
In November 2024, ABC announced that [[Patricia Karvelas]] will be stepping down as host in December and will replaced by [[Sally Sara]] from January 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-10-31 |title=Sally Sara to replace Patricia Karvelas as host of ABC Radio National Breakfast |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-01/sally-sara-new-presenter-radio-national-2025/104547772 |access-date=2024-11-04 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref> Karvelas will take on an expanded role across ABC platforms.
A weekend edition, called ''Saturday Extra'', is hosted by journalist [[Geraldine Doogue]] and is broadcast from 7.30 am to 9.00 am [[AEST]].{{cn|date=February 2021}}
The program begins officially at 6.05 am following the hourly news broadcast. The news broadcasts are state-based and occur on the hour, every hour, with the traditional "Majestic Fanfare" tune.{{cn|date=February 2021}}
About four items are presented each hour, with longer items earlier in the program. These include a mix of reports from ABC correspondents, reports from the [[BBC]] and [[CNN]], as well as interviews with a variety of people, including federal and state politicians, prominent commentators, persons of interest, celebrities and ordinary people who are in the middle of news stories.{{cn|date=February 2021}}
At 7.10 am, after the 7.00 news, ''Breakfast'' switches over to ''[[AM (ABC Radio)|AM]]'', which runs from 7.10 am until 7.30 am, after which ''Breakfast'' returns.
==Hosts== Hosts of the show include:{{cn|date=February 2021}} *[[Peter Thompson (broadcaster)|Peter Thompson]], January 1994 – December 1999, January 2003 – December 2004 *Vivian Schenker, January 2000 – December 2002 *[[Fran Kelly]], March 2005 – December 2021 *[[Patricia Karvelas]], January 2022 – December 2024 *[[Sally Sara]], January 2025 – present *[[Geraldine Doogue]], weekend host and fill-in host *[[Norman Swan]], fill-in host
==Contributors==
There are several regular contributors to the program:<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-30 |title=ABC Radio National in 2025: Always Curious |url=https://help.abc.net.au/hc/en-us/articles/11309154904463-ABC-Radio-National-in-2025-Always-Curious |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=ABC Help - Australian Broadcasting Corporation Help Centre |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Luke Siddham Dundon - Newsreader * Melissa Clarke - Political correspondent * Peter Ryan - Business correspondent
==Recognition and acclaim== ''Radio National Breakfast'', while lower in ratings than most other state and local radio programs, has, as a national program, one of the highest listener numbers for any early morning program in Australia. In particular it is regarded as the program which federal Australian politicians listen to, particularly given its focus on national politics. Former Australian Prime Minister, [[John Howard]], was known to be a fan of the program and regularly appeared for interviews.{{cn|date=February 2021}}
==See also== *''[[Today (BBC Radio 4)|Today]]'' (Radio National Breakfast's British equivalent) *''[[Morning Ireland]]'' (Radio National Breakfast's Irish equivalent) *''[[Morning Edition]]'' (Radio National Breakfast's American equivalent)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{official|https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/}}
[[Category:ABC Radio and Regional Content]] [[Category:Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio programs]] [[Category:Breakfast radio]] [[Category:Australian news radio programs]] [[Category:1990s Australian radio programs]] [[Category:2000s Australian radio programs]] [[Category:2010s Australian radio programs]] [[Category:2020s Australian radio programs]]