Christine Anu Joins 702 ABC Sydney Evenings Team

The ABC is doing its best to ensure its metro presenters know what they're talking about, backing up yesterday's announcement that Clare Bowditch would be joining the crew at 774 ABC Melbourne in 2016 with fresh news today that celebrated chanteuse Christine Anu will also enjoy Auntie's embrace next year when she joins 702 ABC Sydney's Evenings team.

The Sunshine On A Rainy Day hitmaker will cut her teeth sharing the program with seasoned broadcaster Dominic Knight before ultimately taking over the show on a full-time basis from April.

Anu's addition to the ABC roster comes amid a wealth of shake-ups across the national broadcaster's Local Radio, Classic FM, Radio National and triple j arms, including the return of Wendy Harmer to Mornings on 702 ABC Sydney, the arrival of broadcaster and journalist Ali Clarke to 891 ABC Adelaide's Mornings (previous presenter Ian Henschke moves to Drive), and the addition of author and academic Larissa Behrendt on 612 ABC Brisbane (and nationally on ABC Local Radio), to host Speaking Out, the stations' national Indigenous affairs program, which will be extended to an hour in length to better explore Indigenous news, politics and current affairs.

"In 2016, ABC Radio will continue to broaden its appeal through new presenter appointments and content, which better reflect the communities and society it's part of," ABC Radio director Michael Mason said in a statement. "It continues to be the destination for great ideas, classical and contemporary music and the place where Australians connect with their cities.

"ABC Radio will be the home of 2016's big conversations and stories."

See a full breakdown of the changes below.

Local Radio

702 ABC Sydney

• One of Australia’s best-known radio hosts, Wendy Harmer will return to the ABC to present the Mornings program.
• Talented entertainer Christine Anu will share the Evenings program with Dominic Knight, before taking up the reins on a full-time basis later in the year.

774 ABC Melbourne

• Australian musician Clare Bowditch will be the new presenter of the weekdayAfternoons program.

891 ABC Adelaide

• Experienced broadcaster and journalist Ali Clarke will present Mornings in Adelaide.
• And popular Mornings presenter Ian Henschke moves to Drive.

720 ABC Perth

• Journalist and broadcaster Jane Marwick will take on Drive.
• Tracy Vo, TV news reporter and author of “Small Bamboo,” will present Weekends.

105.7 ABC Darwin

• Adam Steer, who has been a familiar voice in Darwin this year, takes on Mornings.

ABC Classic FM

• Phillip Sametz will move from presenting the popular weekend programsScreen Sounds and Sunday Recital to Classic Breakfast.
• Brisbane-based presenter and author Martin Buzacott will present Mornings.
• Current Classic Breakfast presenter Julian Day moves to Afternoons from (Sun-Tues). Julian has been awarded the 2015 Fauvette Loureiro Memorial Artists Travel Scholarship and will have international travel opportunities throughout the year.
• Popular Mornings presenter Christopher Lawrence moves to the Driveprogram.
• Damien Beaumont will move from Afternoons to take over Weekend Mornings from Marian Arnold who recently retired.
• New voices on the station include talented harpist Genevieve Lang who will replace Phillip Sametz on Sunday Recital and multi-talented Brisbane-based composer and conductor Gordon Hamilton, who will replace Phillip on Screen Sounds.

ABC RN

• Experienced journalist and broadcaster Ellen Fanning joins RN to present the ever-popular Life Matters (Mon-Wed), following Natasha Mitchell’s move to new opportunities at RN.
• Cassie McCullagh will host Life Matters (Thurs-Fri) and present The TV Club(formerly The List), on Wednesdays. It’s a fresh look at TV, involving discussion, debate and lively analysis of new developments.
• While RN says goodbye to the Media Report, the station will continue to discuss media issues in depth, with a network-wide focus on media stories – especially during RN Drive with Patricia Karvelas.
• Former Media Report host Richard Aedy will host two new business programs: one focusing on topical business issues and the economy, and the other on the broader elements and challenges of leadership and innovation.
• Perth-based Kirsti Melville will present Earshot (Mon-Thurs).

triple j

• triple j will introduce a new sex and relationships program on Sunday nights to replace Sunday Night Safran. The program host will be announced in the New Year.
• Weekends will see all regular presenters return, but with a couple of timeslot shuffles. Stacy Gougoulis will now host Weekend Breakfast; Gemma Pike returns for Weekend Lunch; Kyran Wheatley will host Weekend Afternoons, where he will be joined by co-host Gen Fricker, who was a regular guest on his show in 2015.
• Your favourite Saturday night party-starters - House Party hosted by KLP and Mix Up, hosted by a different resident DJ each month - will keep you dancing past midnight, followed up with a new late night program called The Kick On, hosted by Shantan Parameswaran aka Shantan Wantan Ichiban.