UPDATE: JAMES VALENTINE CONFIRMED

There is speculation in The Australian today (subscription required) that James Valentine will replace Wendy Harmer and Robbie Buck on ABC Radio Sydney breakfast.

 According to The Australian, Valentine has already held talks with senior management, telling them he is willing to make the 3.30am rise to host a “Clive Robertson-like” program.

The move could also mean an overhaul of programming which would see breakfast run from 5.30-8.00am followed by AM and then the morning show from 8.30-11.00am, with mornings hosted by a high profile ABC woman with Cassie McCullagh, Sarah Macdonald and Indira Naidoo named in the article as candidates.

Fran Kelly and The Drum’s Ellen Fanning have also been mentioned as possible hosts.

Harmer and Buck will finish with the breakfast program in December this year.