John Riddell (presenter)

John Riddell (born September 1956)[1] is an Australian former television and radio presenter.[2][3]

John Riddell
Born1956 (age 66–67)
Occupation(s)radio and television presenter
Known forco-anchoring Seven News in Adelaide; co-hosting the Mix 102.3 breakfast show
TelevisionSeven News, Today Tonight, The World Around Us, The Crows Show, SA Decides, SA Weekender: Book Them Out

He is best known for his thirty-year association with the Seven Network's television station in Adelaide, SAS-7 where he anchored Seven News bulletins from 1990 to his retirement in late 2019.[2][3]

Career

Riddell began his media career with a cadetship at Messenger Newspapers in Adelaide.[2] Riddell then moved into radio where he worked at 5DN and then as a foreign correspondent for the Macquarie Radio Network.[3] While in London covering the assassination of Lord Louis Mountbatten for Macquarie in 1979, Riddell caused a security scare and was ejected from Australia House when he was mistaken for a bomber when he was seen with an unscrewed telephone receiver with its wires connected to a small black cassette recorder as he attempted to send a pre-recorded report back to Australia.[3]

He then moved into television, initially working at TVW-7 in Perth before returning to Adelaide where he started working at NWS-9 in 1981.[3]

After spending nine years at NWS-9, he moved to SAS-7 where he anchored the weekend Seven News bulletins.[2] When Graeme Goodings moved to weekends as he recovered from cancer, Riddell moved to the weeknight bulletin in 2005 where he formed an enduring on-air partnership with Jane Doyle.[4] While at Seven, Riddell also occasionally hosted the Adelaide edition of Today Tonight.[5] He also hosted the documentary series The World Around Us and the local AFL program The Crows Show, despite being an ambassador for Port Adelaide.[3][6]

He also anchored Seven's coverage of South Australian state elections.[7] However in a 2019 interview, he admitted that he would have said no to hosting election coverage if he'd been able to.[3]

Riddell also continued to work in radio. From late 2007 to early 2012, he was a co-host on the Mix 102.3 breakfast show, alongside Jason "Snowy" Carter and Jodie Oddy.[8][9] With Carter, Riddell inaugurated an annual charity fundraiser called the West End Mighty River Run to raise money for Novita Children's Services in 2006.[10] Riddell briefly returned in radio in June 2012 filling in for Dale Lewis on Triple M Adelaide's Hot Breakfast.[11]

After his 63rd birthday in September 2019, Riddell announced his retirement.[1] His co-anchored his final Seven News bulletin on 6 December 2019.[12] After his retirement, Jane Doyle continued as the sole anchor of the bulletin until her own retirement in late 2022.[13]

Following the South Australian bushfires of late 2019 and early 2020 which affected the Adelaide Hills and Kangaroo Island, Riddell returned to Seven co-host a special "Book Them Out" edition of SA Weekender to help support the local communities.[14]

Personal life

After his retirement, Riddell and his wife sold their apartment at Holdfast Shores and relocated to Victor Harbor.[15]

References
  1. Woolford, Lisa (9 November 2019). "John Riddell to retire from 7NEWS Adelaide after four decades on TV". The Sunday Mail. Retrieved 13 January 2023. prompted somewhat by turning 63 in September...
  2. "John Riddell". Yahoo! Finance. 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  3. Woolford, Lisa (30 November 2019). "From larrikin to Adelaide icon in 40 years on frontline of news". The Advertiser. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  4. Knox, David (15 August 2016). "Seven News Adelaide wins 400th week". TV Tonight. Retrieved 13 January 2023. Presenters Jane Doyle and John Riddell have been reading together since July 2005.
  5. Knox, David (23 September 2018). "Record run for Today Tonight in Adelaide". TV Tonight. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  6. "Ambassadors". Port Adelaide Football Club. Retrieved 13 January 2023. John Riddell - media
  7. Knox, David (14 March 2018). "Seven News: SA Decides". TV Tonight. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  8. "New studio for Mix 102.3 Adelaide". radioinfo. 3 December 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2023. The new Mix 102.3 breakfast show "Mix Mornings with John Riddell, Jodie Blewett & Snowy" broadcast the first show from the new studio this morning...
  9. "Channel 10 Adelaide". radioinfo. 5 February 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2023. Mark Aiston has been confirmed as John Riddell's replacement on the Mix 102.3 breakfast show
  10. Landau, Sophie (3 November 2022). "2023 Mighty River Run to honour Russell Ebert after high flows cancels this year's event". ABC News. Retrieved 13 January 2023. Ebert pitched the fundraiser idea along with his friends John Riddell and Jason 'Snowy' Carter back in 2006
  11. "Special guest John makes radio return". The Advertiser. 28 June 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  12. Knox, David (7 December 2019). "John Riddell signs off: "I'm getting a bit emotional."". TV Tonight. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  13. Debelle, Penelope (17 November 2022). "Jane Doyle to retire from 7 News Adelaide after 33 years". TV Tonight. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  14. Knox, David (28 January 2020). "Airdate: Bushfire T20 Showdown". Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  15. James, Colin; Hough, Andrew (11 February 2022). "Revealed: The rich Holdfast Shores residents whingeing about noise". The Advertiser. Retrieved 13 January 2023. The couple since have sold their apartment in the seaside complex and moved to Victor Harbor
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