The multiple Walkley Award winner said he was “honoured and terrified” to be taking over the prestigious ABC radio role.
“I’ve always loved the show and it’s going to be terrific,” he said. “It’s wonderfully resourced,it’s got a big loyal audience,it’s an institution of the ABC and I honour what it’s been,but it’s going to be different under me.”
David Marr will take over from Phillip Adams.Lorrie Graham
Marr said that,as someone who loved that interviews always offered “the possibility of profound surprise”,he wanted to explore the unexpected in the show.
“I don’t ever want to do an interview that is straightforward,rote,running through the numbers one to ten,” he said. “I love doing interviews. It is,of course,a profound challenge to me because it means I have to shut up and listen to what is actually being said. But I think the interview is a great art form.”
The show would include “political interviews,arts interviews,history,philosophy,the lot. It’s going to be a big menu”.
Phillip Adams has presented Late Night Live for 33 years.Tina FiveAsh
Marr’s celebrated career in journalism includes editingThe National Times and reporting forThe Sydney Morning Herald,The Bulletin,The Guardian and the ABC. A former host ofMedia Watch,he has been an investigative journalist atFour Cornersand has written such acclaimed books as and Patrick White - A Life.
He spent three years hosting Arts Today on what was then Radio National.
“It had a wonderful staff,” he said. “They beat me into shape. I think I know how to do radio.”
Marr thought there would be no shortage of topical issues to address as Late Night Live host.
“I will start soon after Britain has dumped the Tories into the garbage bin.” he said. “Then we’re going to be through the horrifying prospect of Donald Trump becoming the circus clown president of the United States.
“We’ll have our own elections early next year. At the same time there are profoundly important things going on in this country and,in particular,reckoning with the aftermath of the Voice defeat and working out how we move forward from that ...
“And,of course,we have continuing appetite for this country,no matter what,to keep on burning coal. There’s a lot on the plate but I hope that I can do it in unexpected and fresh and convincing ways.”
RN Manager Dina Rosendorff said replacing Adams after an unrivalled career on the ABC was never going to be easy.
“David is the right combination of intellect,curiosity and,of course,a wicked sense of humour,” she said. “We are all delighted that he’s agreed to take up this role until the end of the year.”
Adams,84,is retiring because of ill health after presenting Late Night Live for 33 years. He finishes on June 27.
Marr,76,will take over on July 15. He is thinking of his six months at the microphone as a trial for him,the ABC and the audience.
“I’m not a spring chicken and we’ll see how it goes,” he said. “Run it to Christmas and then we’ll have a think about what happens after that.”
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