ABC executives have been caught completely off guard by veteran broadcaster Chris Bath's unexpected decision to abandon her high-profile Drive programme less than twelve months after taking over the prestigious role.
Live On-Air Announcement Stuns Listeners
The 57-year-old journalist surprised her audience during Monday's broadcast when she revealed she wouldn't be returning to the weekday programme in 2026. Bath confessed to listeners that she had struggled with the decision for several weeks before making her final choice.
'I have decided to leave Drive,' she announced during the programme, simultaneously confirming that journalist Thomas Oriti will be stepping into her role.
Industry insiders confirmed that Bath's declaration came as a complete surprise to radio management, with the popular presenter believed to have informed network executives only this month.
Recent Career Changes Raise Questions
The timing of Bath's ABC departure has raised eyebrows throughout the media industry, coming just three weeks after reports emerged that Network Ten had decided not to renew her contract as a weekend newsreader after a decade with the channel.
According to insiders, Ten made the decision based on budgetary constraints rather than performance issues. Bath, who spent seven years as the weekend presenter for 10 News, will be replaced by 34-year-old Georgie Tunny, who joined the network in 2022 as a presenter on The Project.
Bath's media career has seen several significant moves in recent years. She replaced previous ABC Drive host Richard Glover in January, and before that enjoyed a substantial tenure at Seven Network, where she first started in 1996.
Not a Complete Farewell to ABC
Despite her sudden departure from the Drive programme, Bath reassured listeners that she isn't severing ties with ABC completely. She revealed plans to front a new Sunday morning programme next year, indicating this represents a shift in her career direction rather than a complete exit.
'As I'm sure you know, timing in life is a funny thing,' she explained during her emotional on-air announcement. 'What the world throws at you is not always under your control. Sometimes you've just got to go with it. So I have made a very difficult decision. It's been a really tough one to make, to be honest with you, but I have decided to leave Drive next year.'
Bath's extensive broadcasting career includes regular appearances on Studio 10 and The Project after joining Ten in 2015 following her departure from Seven. She became a regular co-host of The Sunday Project in 2017, though was replaced by Lisa Wilkinson the following year.
Most recently, aside from her ABC Drive responsibilities, Bath had been hosting a national 90-minute Saturday evening bulletin, a separate Perth bulletin, and a one-hour Sunday evening bulletin for both markets, demonstrating the breadth of her broadcasting capabilities.
