Marc Fennell scores weekend radio show on ABC Radio National

Award-winning podcaster, journalist and broadcaster, Marc Fennell, will have a new radio show on the ABC in 2021.

The Weekend with Marc Fennell will run from 1pm tp 3pm from January 30 on Radio National.

It will, according tp publicity for the show, feature an eclectic range of Radio National content from existing programs such as Earshot, seasonal drama such as RN Fictions, and new ABC podcasts including Days Like These. In addition it will broadcast interview highlights from the preceding week across the network.

RN’s manager Cath Dwyer said the show is an exciting development for the network.

“Its flexible format will allow us to feature short-run content and weekly highlights from RN’s hugely diverse schedule, while remaining true to our commitment to thoughtful, intelligent and surprising audio content,” Dwyer said.

Fennell said it was going to be a blast sharing the finest ABC audio storytelling with audiences each Saturday.

“Every time you flick on The Weekend, trust that we’ll bring you Australia’s best conversations, biggest ideas and wildest adventures,” he added.

In the new year, The Weekend with Marc Fennell will provide the launchpad for new ABC Audio Studios content, including new  science comedy show The Pop Test.

The Pop Test is a 30-minute quiz which puts a panel of three guests together, rather than pitting them against each other, to answer questions on a wide-range of science-themed content. It was created, and will be presented, by Andy Matthews and Al Tremblay Birchall, who were two of the writers behind Shaun Micallef’s Mad As Hell. 

Fennell will also continue to present Download This Show, Radio National’s weekly guide to the world of media, culture and technology which first airs at 11am on Thursdays.

Weekend show The Minefield hosted by Waleed Aly and Scott Stephens will return in 2021 with a refreshed hour-long format, the ABC said, while Weekend Life Matters and the weekly World Docos will not return to make way for the new content schedule.

The ABC said it will continue to feature a range of acclaimed international documentary content in different time slots.

In addition to his ABC commitments, Fennell has produced a number of podcasts, including Audible exclusives Nut Jobs and It Burns. He also hosts The Feed on SBS.