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ABC Radio Sydney presenter Richard Glover has announced he is leaving the Drive program after 26 years.
Glover told listeners on Friday it was a tough decision.
“It’s one of the best jobs in Australian journalism, and I feel I’ve hogged it for long enough,” he said.
“It has a terrific audience — funny, wise, full of intellect but also willing to share some of the deeper stories of being human.
“There’s also the chance to do anything. Every afternoon there’s politics, literature, music and comedy, all jockeying for position.”
Glover speaking as part of his role as the long-time secretary of the NSW Journalists Benevolent Fund. (Supplied: Walkley Foundation/Adam Hollingworth)
He said there may be future opportunities at the ABC, but in the short-term he planned to continue writing his Sydney Morning Herald column, work on another book and spend time with his three grandchildren.
“I also plan to get my knees done after years boring my listeners with my problems,” he said.
“I’ll miss the listeners, of course, but also my fabulous colleagues at 702 ABC Radio Sydney — radio’s best team.”
Despite the regular predictions of the death of radio over the decades, the 66-year-old says the platform has a strong future, citing rising global audiences and the popularity of podcasts and audiobooks.
Richard Glover interviews a new mum at the Royal Hospital for Women in Paddington in the 90s. (Supplied: ABC Radio Sydney)
He is fond of saying “radio has the best pictures” because the listener fills in the details.
“The projector plays behind your eyes, not in front of them,” he said.
Originally starting on Mornings in 1996, he switched to the 3:30-6:30pm slot two years later and has stayed there ever since.
Callers create memorable moments
Over Glover’s 26 years with Drive, many famous guests have joined him on the program.
“Among my favourites: Bill Bryson, Clive James, Julie Andrews, Dolly Parton, Lou Reed and David Attenborough,” he said.
US comedian Chris Rock was among the celebrities to appear on Drive. (Supplied: Richard Glover)
But it has often been the stories shared by callers that have made for the most moving radio.
One of his most memorable on-air moments came during a 2012 broadcast on the 35th anniversary of the Granville train disaster.
Presenting the program from home during the COVID lockdown. (Supplied: Richard Glover)
A nurse rang in and talked about the many months she’d spent caring for a woman, who was badly injured in the disaster and almost died several times in hospital.
They happened to be the same age, in their late 20s at the time, and the nurse had often wondered what had happened to the woman after she left hospital.
A few days later, her patient — Debbie — rang in, leading to a tearful on-air reunion with the nurse, updating her and everyone listening on her career and children.
Glover also broke the Guinness World Record for the longest radio interview in 2011, talking to journalist and author Peter FitzSimons for a marathon 24 hours. (The feat was beaten in 2022 by two Ohio radio producers.)
He has also been nominated for three Walkley Awards — two for print, and one for radio.
Glover is also proud of some of the segments the Drive team have created, including The Dag’s Dictionary, which went on to be a best-selling book, and Years of Our Lives in which listeners talked about the events, both public and private, that happened in a particular year.
Former prime minister Gough Whitlam in the 702 studios on the 30th anniversary of The Dismissal. (Supplied: Richard Glover)
Still going are Self Improvement Wednesday, where experts teach listeners about their special interest and, of course, Thank God It’s Friday, which is performed in front of a live audience.
Glover’s last Drive show will be Friday November 29, featuring a special Thank God It’s Friday featuring comedians Tommy Dean, Wendy Harmer and Tahir, with music from The Backsliders.
His advice to his successor, due to be announced later this year, was simply to “enjoy it”.