ABC star Patricia Karvelas announces big move: ‘I’m excited and privileged to take on the role’

Patricia Karvelas has been given the honor of hosting ABC's controversial panel discussion program Q+A.

Karvelas announced this on Monday to her 161,000 followers on social media platform X.

The announcement follows Stan Grant's resignation in July, with the program struggling to attract viewers and calls for the show's cancellation mounting.

“V+A is the town hall,” Karvelas said.

'It's the only program that brings together a range of guests to debate big issues, where ordinary people – not journalists or insiders – can come along and ask questions of powerful people.'

“I thrive on big and difficult conversations and I am excited and privileged to take on the role of host of this iconic ABC program in 2024.”

Karvelas said she was committed to evolving the show to meet the changing needs of audiences.

“A show like Q+A must continually evolve to meet the needs of Australians and that is what I am committed to.

'RN Breakfast is the agenda-setting, long-form audio interview program that I enjoy so much. I'm happy to be able to combine my love of radio and TV at the ABC.'

ABC News Director Justin Stevens said the program would benefit from a host of Karvelas' caliber.

“Patricia is an exceptional communicator with a rare ability to cut through and clarify complex issues,” he said.

“She is an independent thinker who brings ethical and intellectual rigor to her journalism.”

Q+A, which has been running since 2008, is struggling to attract viewers this year.

A highly controversial and well-publicized episode in November, hosted by Karvelas, featuring a fiery debate about the fighting between Israel and Hamas, attracted only 209,000 viewers nationwide.

Only 59,000 viewers in Sydney tuned in, while Melbourne delivered 81,000 viewers and all other capital cities 25,000 or less.

The prestigious Radio National Breakfast programme, presented by Karvelas, is also struggling in the ratings.

Karvelas also hosts the prestigious ABC Radio National Breakfast show, which has struggled to attract listeners

Former Q+A presenter Stan Grant shockingly resigned in July, accusing the ABC of not supporting him enough in the face of racist abuse

Recent surveys have revealed that since the departure of the show's 17-year mainstay, Fran Kelly, in 2021, listenership has fallen by a third.

National cumulative listenership (several people reached at least once by a radio station over a period of time) in the five major cities has fallen from 372,000 listeners in Kelly's latest survey to 247,000, a decline of 33.6 percent.

The program's audience share has also fallen below five percent in all capital cities, ranging from 4.3 percent in Sydney to just 0.9 percent in Perth.

Grant's sensational departure as Q+A host in July, where he accused the ABC of not supporting him enough in the face of torrents of vile racist abuse, was followed shortly after by the show's longtime executive producer Erin Vincent.

She posted on her Instagram account that 'after 14 years at the ABC, the time has come for something new'.

Q+A returns on Monday, February 19, 2024.