Sky News political editor will replace Barrie Cassidy at the ABC’s Sunday morning political program, sources say

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Sky News political editor David Speers will be the new host of the ABC’s Sunday morning political program Insiders, Guardian Australia understands.

ABC sources have said Sky’s highest-paid presenter will make the jump to take over from Barrie Cassidy, who is retiring next month.

The ABC has not confirmed the appointment.

The Walkley award-winning journalist, 44, would almost certainly take a pay cut if he left Rupert Murdoch’s pay TV operation, where sources say he is paid more than $500,000.

The broadcaster, much admired for his razor-sharp interviews with politicians, is the face of the News Corp channel and his measured approach has won him many fans.

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“It’s a body blow for Sky if Speers leaves for the ABC,” one source said.

Senior journalists, including high-profile ABC personalities, said the appointment was a momentous one both for the national broadcaster and for Sky.

Cassidy called it “a huge coup” for the ABC.

David Crowe, the chief political correspondent for the Age and the Sydney Morning Herald, said on Twitter it was a “gobsmackingly good appointment”. His Herald colleague Kate McClymont called it “a major, major blow to Sky News”.

The Australian’s Peter van Onselen said it was an “absolutely awesome get” for Insiders and a “huge loss” for Sky News. Nine’s Chris Uhlmann said Speers was “one of the best in the business” and the ABC was “lucky to have him”.

Juanita Phillips (@Juanita_Phillip) Among general newsroom hubbub, someone yelled jubilantly: We got him!

Other contenders for Insiders had included ABC News Breakfast co-host Michael Rowland, RN Breakfast host Fran Kelly and RN Drive host Patricia Karvelas. Both Kelly and Rowland responded immediately to the news of Speers’s arrival on Twitter.

Fran Kelly (@frankelly08) Great to have you onboard @David_Speers ! Look forward to seeing you on the @InsidersABC couch!

Michael Rowland (@mjrowland68) This is a SUPERB appointment. @David_Speers will comfortably fill @barriecassidy’s big shoes. A true class act! Welcome aboard, mate. @abcnews @InsidersABC https://t.co/UgSW5gMQsF

Insiders is one of a number of high-profile programs where positions have been vacant, following the resignation of ABC veterans Cassidy, Q&A host Tony Jones and radio broadcaster Jon Faine.

Virginia Trioli is taking Faine’s mornings program on ABC Melbourne radio and the former foreign correspondent Lisa Millar will almost certainly move in at ABC News Breakfast to replace Trioli. Millar has been filling in for her in recent months.

A new host for Q&A is still undecided.

Along with Kieran Gilbert and Laura Jayes, Speers is the credible face of news for the pay TV channel, which is better known for its After Dark line-up of rightwing commentators, including Andrew Bolt, Paul Murray, Chris Kenny and Peta Credlin.

The tension between the day and the night team bubbled over last month when Murray called Bill Shorten disgusting.

“You’re not a big fan of Bill Shorten’s,” Gilbert said to Murray live on air. “He could have orchestrated the second coming and you probably wouldn’t have been too positive about it. So that’s the starting point isn’t it?”

Speers and Jayes were among those who objected to the appearance of the far-right extremist Blair Cottrell on Sky in August.

Speers, who presents PM Agenda, has been with Sky News Australia for almost two decades after starting his career in radio.

He won Walkleys for interviews with the former Liberal frontbencher Christopher Pyne and the former attorney general George Brandis.