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Fran 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

Kelly grew up in Adelaide, South Australia. 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 classicsABC Radio National,
''Fran Kelly''
" while also being involved in the women's movement, theatre and music.

She then worked as an activities officer, booking bands and organising events, first at Flinders University and then La Trobe University in Melbourne from 1980. In Melbourne she fronted an all-female band called Toxic Shock, which released a single, "Intoxicated" in 1981.

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. In 1990 she became a reporter for ABC Radio National's current affairs programs ''AM'' and ''PM''. Kelly became Canberra bureau chief, chief political correspondent with ''AM'' and ''PM'', political editor for ABC's Radio National Breakfast and ABC television's '' The 7:30 Report'' and the ABC's Europe correspondent. In 2005 she returned to Australia to host ''Radio National Breakfast''.Same Same 25
Fran Kelly: Presenter, Radio National
." 2008.

Kelly was involved with the documentary series ''The Howard Years'' in 2008, for which she interviewed former US president George W. Bush. She has appeared as a panellist and commentator on ABC TV's '' Insiders'', 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 of the ABC in roles such as covering federal elections, continuing as co-host of the podcast ''The Party Room'', 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 a number of 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.

''Frankly'' debuted on ABC TV on 7 October 2022 with Shaun Micallef, Richard Harris and Kirsten Banks appearing as Kelly's first guests. The program received generally mixed to positive reviews.

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, and was described by the Australian electronic magazine ''Crikey'' as "one of the most influential media players in the country" in the same year.

Political views and activism

Kelly has described herself as an activist. Kelly is a feminist, and stated in a 2012 interview that she's identified as such since her school years.

In 2007, Kelly launched the Australian Human Rights Commission's "Same-Sex: Same Entitlements" inquiry. She has been involved with One Just World's speaker forums, moderating a "Women of the World" forum for WOMADelaide and speaking on the "Stand Up Against Poverty" forum in 2009.

Personal life

Kelly has been with her partner, Marion Frith, for almost 30 years, with whom she is step-parent to her partner's three children from a previous relationship.

On 21 October 2021, Frith was present at the studio to support Kelly for announcement of leaving RN Breakfast.It’s time’: Fran Kelly to leave ABC RN Breakfast after 17 years at the helm
The Guardian, 2021-10-21

Footnotes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kelly, Fran
Australian radio journalists
ABC radio (Australia) journalists and presenters
Living people
Women radio journalists
Australian television talk show hosts
Australian women television journalists
Year of birth missing (living people)
Australian political journalists
LGBT broadcasters from Australia
LGBT journalists from Australia