Appearing on live television in the early hours has its perils as academic and political commentator Dr Scott Burchill​ discovered on Tuesday morning when he named a recently deceased MP as a potential replacement for outgoing speaker Bronwyn Bishop.

Dr Burchill​, a senior lecturer in international relations at Deakin University, made the embarrassing blunder on the ABC's News Breakfast program.

News Breakfast presenters Michael Rowland and Virginia Trioli​ were speculating about who would become federal parliament's next speaker in the wake of Bronwyn Bishop's resignation over her lavish expense claims.

"It looks like it is going to go to a Liberal MP. It looks like it's going to go to…" Rowland said, before Dr Burchill interrupted, saying: "Don Randall?"