Fran Kelly

Frances Margaret Kelly is an Australian radio presenter, current affairs journalist, and political correspondent who hosted the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Radio National program Breakfast from March 2005 to early December 2021.

Early life and education Fran Kelly grew up in Adelaide, South Australia, one of six siblings.

She matriculated from St Dominic's Priory College in North Adelaide in 1974 and, after missing out on a cadetship at The Advertiser, a couple of years later went to the University of Adelaide, completing an arts degree and majoring in literature and classics while also being involved in the women's movement, theatre and music.

Career in journalism After realising that what she really wanted to do was journalism, in 1988 Kelly moved to Sydney to work on The Drum on Triple J.

Kelly was involved with the documentary series The Howard Years in 2008, for which she interviewed former US president George W. Bush. and hosted the show from August to December 2019.

On 21 October 2021, Kelly announced that she was leaving RN Breakfast, although she would continue to work for the ABC in roles such as covering federal elections, continuing as co-host of The Party Room podcast, and other future projects. Her last show was on 2 December 2021.

In August 2022, Kelly was announced as the host of a new chat show on ABC TV called Frankly. Her appointment attracted criticism from some newspaper columnists who all opined that the job should have been given to someone much younger. This prompted a public debate about the apparent ageist attitudes and discrimination towards older women in the media. ABC chair Ita Buttrose and Kelly's successor at RN Breakfast Patricia Karvelas were also criticised after they both defended Kelly against what they perceived to be ageist attitudes. The program received generally mixed to positive reviews.

In early 2024, Kelly started presenting a podcast called Yours Queerly. In February 2024, Noongar journalist and TV presenter Narelda Jacobs appeared with Pasifika New Zealander drag artist Kween Kong on the show.

In 2024 it was reported that Kelly would host a new program on ABC's Radio National entitled The Radio National Hour. She hosted the program through to 19 August, but Michael Rowland took over as host on the 20th, posting on his Facebook page that he was "back behind the Radio National Hour mic for a little while Fran Kelly takes an extended break". On 7 November 2025 Rowland announced on Facebook that he was "finishing up my stint filling in for Fran Kelly on the Radio National Hour".

Recognition In 2008, Kelly received a Same Same 25 award, recognising her as one of the country's most influential gay and lesbian Australians. She was named by the(sydney)magazine as one of Sydney's 100 most influential people of 2011,

Kelly was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2026 King's Birthday Honours in recognition of "distinguished service to broadcast journalism, to the advancement of social justice, to equality, and to advocacy for the LGBTQIA+ community".

Other activities On Saturday, 28 November 2009, Kelly was MC for a fundraising event for Kathy Sport's film project, Rock On With Your Frock On, about Australian women's music. Taking place at the Red Rattler Theatre in Marrickville, Sydney, The Stray Dags were the headline act at the event.

Political views and activism Kelly has described herself as an activist.

Personal life In August 2021, it was reported that Kelly had been with her partner, Marion Frith, for almost 30 years. Kelly is step-parent to Frith's three children from a previous relationship.

Footnotes