ABC pulls back the curtain on a bold new hit with the satirical special Always Was Tonight, arriving right as the national conversation around 26 January intensifies.
The ABC is stepping confidently into the debate, launching its latest news satire from Ultimo Studios and placing Tony Armstrong at the helm. The proud Gamilaroi host leads a program designed to reframe the week’s headlines through a First Nations lens, with the broadcaster positioning the special as an attempt to “decolonise the news — one headline at a time.”
Armstrong fronts a line-up featuring Brooke Blurton, the Noongar–Yamatji presenter known to audiences from The Bachelorette Australia. The ABC describes the 30-minute special as fast, funny and unflinching, with an agenda to push into territory mainstream news shows usually avoid.
– Advertisement –
A broad team of First Nations creatives drove the writing room, including Yaraman Thorne, Megan Wilding, Aaron Collins, Jay Wymarra, Dave Woodhead, Elaine Crombie and Shontelle Ketchell. Their work follows a strong run for the ABC Indigenous unit, which the broadcaster notes has recently enjoyed national attention — including a 2026 AACTA Award nomination for That Blackfella Show.
The program is produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, with Rowdie Walden as Executive Producer and Kelrick Martin serving as ABC Head of Indigenous.
The ABC is promoting the special alongside its broader slate of Indigenous storytelling, encouraging viewers to explore more content on ABC iview.
Always Was Tonight airs Wednesday 21 January at 9.00pm on ABC TV and ABC iview.
– Advertisement –
