Tony Armstrong makes huge career announcement: 'Been so lucky'

Tony Armstrong has announced he’s leaving ABC News Breakfast, dropping the news on Tuesday morning and saying he would be hosting his final show in October.

The popular host joined ABC in 2020, replacing Paul Kennedy to report sport news for the breakfast program in 2021, and was nominated for his first Gold Logie this year, two years after winning the Logie for Best New Talent.

Saying he was nervous about announcing his news, Armstong let fans know he had "retired" from the breakfast show, sending his thanks to the wider ABC team.

“I just want to thank Brekky and the broader ABC News team for welcoming me in with open arms and helping me grow over the past few years,” he said. “It feels like I’ve been on a bit of a rocket ship.”

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"I've been so lucky to be surrounded by an incredible team and it's those friendships that I'm going to cherish the most," Tony continued.

ABC co-hosts pay tribute to Tony Armstrong: 'A wonderful friend'

In a testament to how beloved the TV presenter has become, his ABC colleagues also shared some words about Armstrong's departure from the morning show.

"I am so sorry three years of talking sport and swapping gags with Tony is about to end," Michael Rowland said. "He is an engaging colleague and a good friend."

Bridget Brennan called Armstrong a "wonderful friend", saying he'd be missed.

"Tony is a wonderful friend and everyone at News Breakfast is going to miss his infectious and caring nature," she said.

"I know it's meant so much to me and to thousands upon thousands of First Nations viewers waking up to see Tony representing us on the daily," she continued.

Tony Armstrong's next career move

The news comes not long after the star revealed that he's written his first-ever children's book titled George The Wizard, which is set to be released in October.

The book is co-created with illustrator Emma Sjaan Beukers and follows a “quirky wizard” who lives on a mountain and learns to embrace his powers.

Armstrong told the Courier Mail he “didn’t want to write another footy story or necessarily an Indigenous-led story” mainly because it was what he said “people expected”.

More to come.

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