Michael Rowland has hinted at an exit from ABC News Breakfast because of the personal toll the role has taken.
Speaking with fellow ABC alum and former News Breakfast co-host Virginia Trioli on her podcast You Don’t Know Me, Michael revealed that he was looking for a ‘less intense’ role.
‘I’m getting older, the ripe old age of 55 this year,’ he said.
‘The toll it takes gets more pronounced every year – the hours, the horrible stories we have to cover as journalists presenting a news program.’
Michael added: ‘I find it is taking more of a toll on me, personally, on my family life, and I’m looking forward to something less intense.’
While the host admitted he hadn’t commenced any formal talks with ABC management about an exit strategy from the show he ‘loves’, he added that he felt he was ‘closer to the end than the beginning.’
‘I hasten to say I love the show. I’m not about to do anything rash,’ Michael continued.
‘I really love what I’m doing at the moment, but I’m much closer to the end than I am to the beginning in doing this show and doing this intense news presenting work.
Michael Rowland (pictured) has hinted at an exit from ABC News Breakfast because of the personal toll the role has taken
Michael continued: ‘But I’m just looking forward to a stage somewhere down the track in the near future, doing something different.’
He added that the distressing nature of some of the stories covered on the show, presented at what he called ‘the wall of doom’ has had an adverse effect on his mental health.
‘It never gets easier,’ he said.
‘We talked about a pretty distressing domestic violence case this morning on the show, and that sort of thing gets me as well. I’m getting emotional. I’m sorry,’
Speaking with fellow ABC alum and former News Breakfast co-host Virginia Trioli on her podcast You Don’t Know Me , Michael revealed that he was looking for a ‘less intense’ role. Pictured with ABC News Breakfast co-host Bridget Brennan
Michael took on the ABC News Breakfast presenting role in 2010, replacing Joe O’Brien.
Currently on air with co-host Bridget Brennan, Michael had spent four years as the ABC’s Washington correspondent prior to the presenting role.
Michael’s admission comes after ABC News Breakfast weatherman Nate Byrne was forced to halt his report in the middle of a broadcast in August after suffering a panic attack live on-air.
Nate cut short his broadcast just before 6.30am, telling viewers ‘I’m going to need to stop for a second’.
Voice quivering, he told viewers: ‘Some of you may know that I occasionally get affected by some panic attacks, and actually that’s happening right now.’
Appearing on the Carrie and Tommy Hit Network show after the episode, Nate revealed being on camera in front of the ‘weather wall’ triggered his panic attack.
‘It’s very, very different for me and, luckily for me, its only when I’m in that one spot, which should actually be my safest spot,’ he admitted.
‘It is my favourite spot to be in the world at the weather wall doing my thing. But [it only happens] when I’m on camera.’
Michael took on the ABC News Breakfast presenting role in 2010, replacing Joe O’Brien. Pictured with former co-host Lisa Millar
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