Q+A is set to trial THREE hosts after Hamish Macdonald’s shock departure

Q+A will be trialling three hosts after it was recently announced that Hamish Macdonald is leaving the ABC current affairs series after 18 months at the helm.

According to a report by The Australian Business Review on Monday, the program has enlisted veteran TV journalists David Speers, Virginia Trioli and Stan Grant to share the role of host.

Speers and Trioli will be based in Melbourne, while Grant will be appearing from Sydney in a new trial for the show, which will last until the end of the year.

If the trio prove to be successful in their new roles, it’s likely they will become the show’s permanent hosts.

It appears to be going well so far, with the new hosts already providing a much-needed boost in the ratings for the program.  

Q+A has also found the new format has worked well amid the coronavirus pandemic, with lockdowns often creating a sense of uncertainty for audiences.

The program is filmed before a live audience, with The Australian noting: ‘Having three hosts based in two cities also provides more flexibility’.

It also allows Speers, Trioli and Grant to share the load, so they can all focus on their main jobs, with each only hosting one show around every three weeks.

Macdonald, 40, assumed the role 18 months ago, taking over from Tony Jones, who had hosted the panel program for 12 years. 

He announced his departure from the show last week, leaving many fans and industry insiders stunned.  

‘I am enormously grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given to host Q&A and to work alongside wonderful, talented and passionate people,’ he said in a statement.

‘I am really proud of what we’ve achieved together during these extraordinary times. I’d also like to thank the incredible Q+A audience for all they contribute to this program each week. It is, after all, their show. Their questions and stories from all corners of Australia are inspiring, revealing and clever – and it has been a privilege to receive and read them.’