Popular ABC presenter Tony Armstrong has announced a major career move.
The 34-year-old Logie winner is set to release his first book next month.
Called George the Wizard it is a picture book for children about a lonely sorcerer and his search for friends.
The television host created the new tome alongside illustrator Emma Sjaan Beukers.
Speaking to the Courier Mail on Friday, the ex-AFL star said he was first approached to write a book about his footy career – but opted to write a book for children.
‘It’s about my reading level,’ he joked about his latest project which is scheduled to hit the shelves on September 25.
He added: ‘I love being in the world of the fantastic and being a bit silly,’ he adds.
‘Kids’ books just throw the rules even further out the window. It’s just feel and emotion and I was drawn to that – the only thing holding you up is you.’
Popular ABC presenter Tony Armstrong (pictured) has announced a major career move. The 34-year-old Logie winner is set to release his first book next month
Tony, who is a proud Gamilaroi man from NSW, said he did want to write a footy book or ‘necessarily’ create an Indigenous-led story.
‘Mainly because I think that’s what people expected,’ he explained. ‘I like zagging when I’m expected to zig.’
It comes after Tony Armstrong looked almost unrecognisable after debuting a new look on ABC News last week.
The Aussie sports presenter, who is known for his head of curls and signature moustache, appeared with a new short buzzcut.
Created alongside illustrator Emma Sjaan Beukers the new tome is called George the Wizard and it is a picture book for children. Pictured: The cover
While he has changed up his hairstyle, the former AFL star has opted to keep his signature moustache and beard.
The Sydney Swans star appeared on ABC’s breakfast show to discuss the sports headlines, a regular role he has held since 2020.
His impressive TV career saw him nominated for the prestigious Gold Logie last month, but he lost out on the win to TV veteran Larry Emdur.
He was also in the running for most popular presenter but the Bert Newton Award was ultimately also taken home by The Morning Show’s Larry in a landslide win.
Tony’s ABC News Breakfast co-star Michael Rowland had previously quipped that the TV star would have been ‘insufferable’ if he had scooped up the award.
Speaking to the Courier Mail on Friday, the ex-AFL star said he was first approached to write a book about his footy career – but opted to write a book for children. Pictured: Tony sporting his new look on ABC News last week
‘To be perfectly honest, Tony will be absolutely insufferable if he wins the Gold Logie,’ he joked ahead of the big night.
‘His head will swell to an abnormal size and he’ll need little encouragement to show off his glittering trophy.’
‘I am willing to deal with this every morning because I honestly think he is so deserving of TV’s highest honour. And that’s no joke,’ he added.
Tony made headlines this years after he was nominated for a Gold Logie.
The hunky star has already won two Logies: in 2022 he scored the Graham Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent and a year later took home the Bert Newton Award for Most Popular Presenter.
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