After nearly 25 years, Clint Stanaway yesterday resigned from his on-air role at Nine, which saw him toggle the roles of Weekend Today co-host and 9News Melbourne Weekend Sport Presenter.
Stanaway made the call so that he could focus on his full-time role as the newsreader for Nova 100’s Jase & Lauren.
This morning, on the very radio show which played such a huge role in his decision, Stanaway revealed the very human reason behind the move.
“I was burnt out,” he told co-hosts Jason Hawkins and Lauren Phillips.
“I’m relieved, because I’ve been thinking about it for a while now. I needed to make a decision, because looking back on how I was feeling and and where my head was at.”
Stanaway first joined the Breakfast show with the intention of only staying for “six months”.
“And four years later, you have been working seven days a week, and hand on heart, I think Jase and I both agree, you are the hardest working human we know, and you’re exhausted!” Phillips said.
Stanaway admitted the role quickly became more than he expected. “Well, first and foremost, you know, I think you’re right. I did do this for six months initially, and I became very quickly addicted to it. And now I see it as my life and my future, which is just such a beautiful feeling to have,” he said.
Hawkins added: “Mate, you took the radio like a duck to water, honestly.”
Stanaway admitted he’d been feeling deeply emotional since announcing the news. “I’m not going to sit here and lie. I did shed a tear, because it’s been my entire life. It’s been my entire professional life, and it will be hard to walk away from Channel Nine after near on 25 years, and I plan to do so at the end or in November sometime,” he said.
He went on to say that fatherhood also played a big decision: “I want to get my life back. I want to do some normal things. I want to share some incredible moments with my family, my friends, and one day, I want to be a dad as well, you know, I want to meet someone. And at the moment, I can’t do that.”
Nine pays tribute
Hugh Nailon, Nine’s National News Director, praised Stanaway’s contribution across the newsroom and beyond: “Clint’s career at Nine is a stellar example of what can be achieved through sheer hard work and dedication. From the news library to the host chair of Weekend Today, he has excelled in every role.
“He’s a brilliant journalist and storyteller, and an equally brilliant presenter. He has a terrific instinct for a story and has been a wonderful mentor to many in our newsroom.
“While he will be sorely missed by the Nine family, we wish him every success in his next chapter and thank him for his outstanding service,” Nailon said.
Stanaway’s departure will mark the end of a significant era for Nine, but as both he and his colleagues have suggested, it may not be the last time viewers see him on their screens.
Main image: Clint Stanaway