Bowditch plans to shift focus back to her music career.

“I’ve adored spending my Afternoons with audiences over these past two years, so it is with whole-hearted gratitude that later this year I’ll be stepping away from hosting Afternoons.” Clare said.

“Next year I release my first book and my eighth studio album, both projects that have been waiting in the wings for quite a while.  It’s time I give them my full attention in a way that just hasn’t been possible while hosting a daily radio show.”

ABC Radio Melbourne Manager, Warwick Tiernan said “It’s with great sadness that we farewell Clare, whose remarkable musical talents are matched by the dedication and care she brought to her time at the station.  She quickly established herself in the hearts of both staff and audiences, and gave the Afternoons a whole new spirit.  She loved, laughed and listened, and each day gave us something fresh, all with some beautiful music along the way.  We can’t wait to hear the new album next year, when we’re sure to hear her back on air at some point.”

Clare said “I’ve loved my time on the program and at the ABC with an amazing radio station team and a brilliant roll call of program contributors.  Most of all though, it’s been the audiences that joined me day after day to create a show that we hope connected people to the community we live in.  We wanted to make them laugh, and know that they always have a place to belong.  Our hope too was that each show reminded us all of what a curious, glorious place we live in and how important it is to just get out there and give things a crack.  Now it’s time for me to give some other things a crack, but it’s not a good bye forever I’m sure.”

Clare’s last day presenting the Afternoons program on ABC Radio Melbourne will be Wednesday 29 November. A new program host for 2018 is yet to be announced.