The television role means Ms Bishop will not be at a loose end after Liberal Party members last month voted to replace her in Mackellar, the northern beaches seat she has held since 1994. Mr Abbott, who once described himself as the "political love-child" of Ms Bishop and John Howard, had declined to endorse her for preselection.

Bronwyn Bishop's career was ended by an expenses scandal. Credit:James Brickwood

During her time in the Speaker's chair, Ms Bishop set a record for the number of politicians to be kicked out of parliament. Of the 400 she ejected, 393 of them were Labor MPs.

But it was the "choppergate" scandal that sounded the death knell for her parliamentary career. Ms Bishop resigned as Speaker amid a public outcry after it was revealed she had spent $5227 of taxpayers' money chartering a helicopter to take her the 80km from Melbourne to Geelong for party fundraiser. Three weeks of criticism forced an apology, with Ms Bishop saying: "I know I've disappointed and let down the Australian people." She resigned a few days later.

The Australian News Channel CEO, Angelo Frangopoulos, said Ms Bishop "will add further depth to our unrivalled coverage of national affairs".