Nightlife (radio program)

Nightlife is an Australian late-night talkback show across ABC Local Radio hosted by Philip Clark (Monday to Thursday) and Suzanne Hill (Friday to Sunday). It offers a mix of both news and current affairs, lifestyle and entertainment. Each night there are regular features and guests. The listening audience is featured throughout the program.

Logo as of 2025

Nightlife is broadcast from 10.05 pm to 2.00 am (AEST) on ABC Local Radio across Australia and is followed by Overnights.

Hosts

In July 2016, Tony Delroy announced that he would be retiring from the show after 26 years as host. He hosted his last show on 2 September 2016.^[1] Dominic Knight then hosted the show until October 2016.

In September 2016, ABC announced that Philip Clark from 666 ABC Canberra would be hosting Nightlife.^[2] In November 2016, ABC confirmed that Clark would host the show from Monday to Thursday and Sarah MacDonald from Friday to Sunday.

In December 2019, ABC announced that MacDonald would be hosting Evenings on ABC Radio Sydney from January 2020.^[3] She hosted her last show on 8 December 2019.

In January 2020, ABC announced that Indira Naidoo would replace MacDonald and host the show from Friday to Sunday from Friday, 7 February.^[4] In December 2022, ABC announced that Naidoo would replace MacDonald as host of Evenings on ABC Radio Sydney from January 2023.^[5] Suzanne Hill replaced Naidoo.^[6]

History

In November 2016, ABC announced that Nightlife would move to a seven-day format.^[7] This decision was met with criticism from within Australian country music circles^[8][9] and from Australian religious leaders^[10][11] as the new seven-day format prompted the ABC to remove the long-running Saturday Night Country from metropolitan ABC stations and to completely axe the 'Sunday Nights religious and ethics program usually hosted by John Cleary.

Segments

The show usually has a guest in the first hour, including a large portion of time for audience talkback. The second hour also has guests, but without any talkback. The third hour usually involves a quiz, called "The Mighty Challenge" on most nights, while the fourth hour usually has another chance for audience talkback in a segment called "Issue of the Day".

In 2007, the popular "Not the Nightly News" segment was discontinued.