Q+A host Hamish Macdonald leaves ABC after 18 months

ABC has announced that Q+A host Hamish Macdonald is leaving the network after 18 months.

The 40-year-old joined the current affairs program in February last year when founding presenter Tony Jones stepped down after 12 years.

Hamish previously worked for Network 10 between 2010 and 2013, before rejoining in 2017 as a regular host of The Sunday Project.

While he hasn’t explicitly said what his next venture is, the TV journalist hinted at a future opportunity in a statement from ABC.

RELATED:

• The Project hosts slam Katie Hopkins' naked quarantine act: 'A troll'

• The Project’s Lisa Wilkinson calls out ‘mistakes’ in Sydney’s lockdown

• The Project host Jan Fran lashes 'graphic' Covid ad: 'Rattled, confused'

“I am enormously grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given to host Q+A and to work alongside wonderful, talented and passionate people,” he said.

“I am really proud of what we’ve achieved together during these extraordinary times.

“I’d also like to thank the incredible Q+A audience for all they contribute to this program each week. It is, after all, their show. Their questions and stories from all corners of Australia are inspiring, revealing and clever – and it has been a privilege to receive and read them.

“I’m really excited to be moving on to a new opportunity, and working more with the ABC in the future.”

Due to the continuing lockdowns, ABC has said that Q+A will continue to be hosted wherever it is possible to have a live audience.

The program will also use a rotation of hosts from ABC’s presenting roster.

ABC’s director of news Gaven Morris celebrated Hamish’s time at the network in a statement, saying: “Everyone at the ABC thanks Hamish for the incredible job he has done.

“At one stage during the lockdown he was presenting a live panel discussion program that wasn’t allowed to have either an audience or panellists in the studio. His experience and versatility came to the fore.

“Hamish has long been a part of the ABC family and we look forward to continuing that relationship when opportunities arise.”

Fans took to social media to honour Hamish’s role on Q+A, with many saying that he will be missed.

“I wish him well in his next venture, whatever it is,” one person tweeted. “It's a tough gig trying to please everybody and he seems like a decent guy.”

“He was engaging, fair and challenged the panel discussing the most difficult subjects,” another added.

Never miss a thing. Sign up to Yahoo Lifestyle’s daily newsletter.

Or if you have a story idea, email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com.