Always Was Tonight, a bold and black news satire, is set to premiere on ABC in January. This new satirical special, premiering on Wednesday, January 21st at 9:00 pm, aims to decolonize the news by tackling headlines with a fearless First Nations perspective. Filmed live from ABC's Ultimo Studios, the show is hosted by Tony Armstrong, a proud Gamilaroi man, who will be joined by a stellar lineup of First Nations talent, including Brooke Blurton, a Noongar-Yamatji woman known for her appearance on The Bachelorette Australia. The special promises to be fast, funny, and unflinching, offering a unique take on the news that no other show dares to provide.
The writing team behind Always Was Tonight is a diverse and talented group of First Nations creatives, including Yaraman Thorne, Megan Wilding, Aaron Collins, Jay Wymarra, Dave Woodhead, Elaine Crombie, and Shontelle Ketchell. Their collective expertise and insights will be showcased in this 30-minute special, which is part of the ABC Indigenous team's ongoing commitment to delivering impactful and entertaining content.
The ABC Indigenous team has been making waves with their recent achievements, most notably with That Blackfella Show, which received a 2026 AACTA Award nomination for Best Entertainment Program. Always Was Tonight continues this tradition, bringing a fresh and fearless approach to news satire. The show's premiere is highly anticipated, as it promises to challenge conventional news narratives and provide a much-needed First Nations perspective.
As the show's tagline suggests, Always Was Tonight is 'bold, blak, and invading your ABC.' It's a free and entertaining watch, offering the best of Indigenous stories and features on ABC iview. The production is an Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) production, with Rowdie Walden as the executive producer and Kelrick Martin as the ABC Head of Indigenous. The show acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands where the ABC operates, paying respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians.
Don't miss out on this groundbreaking and thought-provoking special, which is set to spark important conversations and challenge the status quo. Tune in on January 21st to experience the power of satire and storytelling from a First Nations perspective.
