Veteran announcer, Barry Bissell, has announced his retirement.

Bissell has hosted Austereo’s ‘Take 40 Australia’ since its inception in 1984, and will stand aside next month.

Apart from two weeks’ holiday a year, he has had only five other weeks off in 20 years, due to a stint in hospital.

Bissell’s move comes less than a week after Jeremy Cordeaux announced he is retiring from 5DN late next month, ending a 42 year career in radio.

Take 40 Australia will soon have a new host – Australian Idol co-presenter, Andrew G.