A familiar face enters the soon-to-be-abandoned breakfast position on ABC Radio Sydney.

This afternoon’s host James Valentine has been announced as the new host to take over from Wendy Harmer and Robbie Buck.

On October 1, the duo announced that they would not return to the show in 2022 after spending three years together.

Valentine said he was “extremely excited” to take first place.

“When I first worked at the station in the mid – ’90s, it was Clive Robertson, then Phil Clarke, with Andrew Olle behind. Angela Catterns, Adam Spencer, Wendy and Robbie – it’s a legacy to build on, and I am excited and grateful for the opportunity, ”he said.

“I know I’m going to love making breakfast. It’s a completely different time of day, so it’s going to be a completely different radio.”

Valentine is a writer and musician who has been a presenter with ABC Radio for more than 20 years.

The Harmer and Bucks show became the second most popular in Sydney’s competitive breakfast radio market, increasing its audience share to 15.7 percent in the latest rating survey.

Regular commentator Josh Szeps will take on Valentine’s show, which was announced as the most listened to afternoon show in the latest Radio Ratings Survey.

Along with these changes, an extra hour will be set aside for Cassie McCullagh’s morning show.

ABC Radio Sydney Manager Melanie Withnall said the coming year was “strong” for the station.

“Our presenters for next year are well known and loved and are all capable of delivering entertaining, informative and at times surprising content,” she said.

Harmer and the Bucks’ last broadcast is scheduled for Friday, December 10th.