Jennifer Byrne

Jennifer Victoria Byrne (born 5 March 1955) is an Australian journalist, television presenter and former book publisher. She hosted the monthly ABC television program The Book Club, originally titled First Tuesday Book Club.

This article is about the journalist. For the scientist, see Jennifer Byrne (research scientist).

Jennifer Byrne
Born (1955-03-05) 5 March 1955
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Occupation(s)Journalist, television presenter, former book publisher
Years active1971–present
Television
Spouses
ChildrenConnor (born 1994)
RelativesSir Dallas Brooks (Grandfather)
AwardsLogie (1985)

Early life

Byrne was born in Melbourne and attended St Margaret's School as a boarding student.[1]

Career

Byrne began her career in journalism at age 16, as a cadet at Melbourne's The Age newspaper. At age 23, she became the paper's San Francisco correspondent and later a feature writer.[2]

Byrne's television work began as a researcher for This Day Tonight's Melbourne unit and later as a reporter for Nationwide. After returning to print media as assistant-editor of The Age's "Monthly Review", she moved back to television in 1982, on Nine Network's Sunday program.[2] On Sunday, in 1985, she won a Logie for her story on Paul Keating's tax summit.[3] From 1986 to 1993, Byrne worked on the Nine Network's current affairs program 60 Minutes.[4] She has also presented ABC TV's Foreign Correspondent. In 2005, Byrne narrated the ABC mockumentary television show We Can Be Heroes. Starting in 2006, she hosted First Tuesday Book Club, a panel book review program, alongside regular commentators Marieke Hardy and Jason Steger on ABC. The series was later renamed The Book Club and concluded in 2017. A spinoff series of specials from this program is titled Jennifer Byrne Presents.

In the mid-1990s, Byrne worked as a publishing director at Reed Books.[5] In 2008, Byrne joined ABC NewsRadio to work as a co-host during the evening drive slot (4–7 pm).[6] In recent times, Byrne has been a regular panellist on Network Ten's The Project and has guest starred on an episode of Talkin' 'Bout Your Generation.

In 2019, Byrne began hosting the Australian version of Mastermind[7] and its celebrity edition. She left the role in 2020, with Marc Fennell replacing her.

She currently is the voice of 10 News First, doing the voiceovers for bulletin intros and promotions.

Personal life

Byrne is married to comedian and independent film producer Andrew Denton, with whom she has one son. Byrne and Denton live in Sydney's Surry Hills, New South Wales.[8] She is the granddaughter of a former Governor of Victoria and past Grand Master of Freemasonry, Sir Dallas Brooks.[9] Byrne was married to fellow journalist David Margan during the 1990s.

References
  1. "Famous alumni on Latham's hit list". Crikey. Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 26 June 2007.
  2. Kent, Simon (12 October 1987). "The Guide: Stars on the Way Up". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  3. "About Sunday: Our History (Pt 2)". Ninemsn. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 18 July 2006.
  4. "Jennifer Byrne (II)". iMDB. Retrieved 18 July 2006.
  5. Beaumont, Lucy (18 May 2006). "Networking". The Age. Retrieved 18 July 2006.
  6. "Byrne books herself new radio show". The Australian. Archived from the original on 28 September 2008. Retrieved 2 September 2008.
  7. O'Brien, Kerrie (11 April 2019). "Self-confessed egghead Jennifer Byrne to host Australian Mastermind". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  8. Allen, Lisa (20 November 2014). "Andrew Denton and Jennifer Byrne buy $4m Surry Hills penthouse". The Australian. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  9. "His Excellency Regrets". The Sydney Morning Herald. 14 August 2004.
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