Veteran Nine presenter Peter Hitchener has dismissed rumours he plans to retire, after being dumped from the weekdays news bulletins and moved to weekends.
The legendary broadcaster, 77, said he was happy to take on a reduced workload to ensure a healthier work/life balance, while still being able to do what he loved.
‘I started thinking about it, when there was talk I’m going to retire. I thought, “What am I going to do? I’m going to see if I can pivot to a less busy schedule,”‘ he told TV Tonight.
‘Lo and behold, this is the outcome, working weekends. It was really only once I made the decision, I thought I’m happy about this. I’ve done the right thing.’
He added that he loved his job too much to ever seriously consider leaving the industry for good.
Veteran Nine presenter Peter Hitchener (pictured) has dismissed rumours he plans to retire, after being dumped from the weekdays news bulletins and moved to weekends
‘I never want to retire, I love to work. If I’m not reading the news, I’ll be doing something else. I don’t think retirement is particularly good for anyone. Well, not for me.’
It comes after reports that Hitchener is changing roles at Channel Nine after more than 25 years.
The Queensland native, who has presented Nine’s weekday news bulletins since 1998, has been bumped to the weekend slot following health woes.
The legendary broadcaster, 77, said he was happy to take on a reduced workload to ensure a healthier work/life balance, while still being able to do what he loved. Pictured in the ’70s
The network announced the news earlier this month, and confirmed both Alicia Loxley, 42, and Tom Steinfort, 39, as his replacements.
The pair have a long history at the network, with Loxley presenting for 9News Melbourne for the past 12 years, while Steinfort is a longtime 60 Minutes correspondent.
Hitchener has spent months denying increasing chatter that he is set to retire from Channel Nine.
‘I started thinking about it, when there was talk I’m going to retire. I thought, “What am I going to do? I’m going to see if I can pivot to a less busy schedule”,’ he told TV Tonight
The 77-year-old, who recently celebrated 50 years at the network, insisted that stories of his retirement have been greatly exaggerated.
‘To be absolutely clear, the first I heard of my so-called retirement was reading about it in @theheraldsun this afternoon,’ Peter wrote on Instagram in July.
‘It is my great honour and a privilege to present the news, and I still hope to for a few more years’.
In 2021, the veteran newsreader took a step back from presenting the news full time.
The Queensland native, who has presented Nine’s weekday news bulletins since 1998, has been bumped to the weekend slot following health woes. Pictured with Livinia Nixon
The 77-year-old, who recently celebrated 50 years at the network, insisted that stories of his retirement have been greatly exaggerated. Pictured with Livinia, Richard Wilkins and Karl Stefanovic
READ MORE: Veteran Channel Nine star Peter Hitchener dumped after 25 years in shock shakeup
