John Anthony Riddell (born 23 September 1956) is an Australian former television and radio presenter. He is best known for his thirty-year association with the

Seven Network Seven Network (stylised 7Network, and commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is an Australian commercial free-to-air Television broadcasting in Australia, television network. It is owned by Seven West Media, Seven West Media Limited, ...

's television station in Adelaide,

SAS-7 SAS, formerly SAS-7 and before that SAS-10, is a television station in Adelaide, South Australia. It is part of the Seven Network. History SAS-7 was originally known as SAS-10, an affiliate of what became Network Ten. It commenced broadcasting o ...

where he anchored ''

Seven News Seven News (stylised 7NEWS) is the television news service of the Seven Network and, as of 2021, the highest-rating in Australia. National bulletins are presented from Seven's high definition studios in South Eveleigh, Sydney, while its flags ...

'' bulletins from 1990 to his retirement in late 2019.

Career

Riddell began his media career with a cadetship at

Messenger Newspapers Messenger Newspapers is the publisher of 9 free suburban weekly newspapers together covering the Adelaide metropolitan area. Established by Roger Baynes in Port Adelaide in 1951, ''Messenger'' has since acquired other independent suburban titles ...

in Adelaide. Riddell then moved into radio where he worked at

5DN Cruise 1323 (call sign: 5DN) is one of Adelaide's longest running radio stations. In its 80+ years it has changed considerably. It was the first commercial station to begin broadcasting in South Australia. History Radio 5DN began operating ...

and then as a foreign correspondent for the

Macquarie Radio Network Nine Radio (formerly Macquarie Media Limited) is an Australian media company, owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and headquartered in North Sydney. The company operates radio stations nationally in the capital cities of Sydney, Melbou ...

. While in London covering the assassination of

Lord Louis Mountbatten Admiral of the Fleet Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma (born Prince Louis of Battenberg; 25 June 1900 – 27 August 1979), commonly known as Lord Mountbatten, was a British statesman, Royal Navy off ...

for Macquarie in 1979, Riddell caused a security scare and was ejected from

Australia House The High Commission of Australia in London is the diplomatic mission of Australia in the United Kingdom. It is located in Australia House, a Grade II listed building. It was Australia's first diplomatic mission and is the longest continuously ...

when he was mistaken for a bomber when he was seen with an unscrewed telephone receiver with its wires connected to a small black cassette recorder as he attempted to send a pre-recorded report back to Australia. He then moved into television, initially working at TVW-7 in Perth before returning to Adelaide where he started working at

NWS-9 NWS is an Australian Australian television broadcasting, television station based in Adelaide, Australia. It is owned-and-operated station, owned-and-operated by the Nine Network. The station callsign, ''NWS'', is an initialism of The NeWs South ...

in 1981. After spending nine years at NWS-9, he moved to SAS-7 where he anchored the weekend Seven News bulletins. When

Graeme Goodings Graeme Goodings (born 21 June 1948) is an Australian television and radio presenter. Early career Goodings's break in media came in 1963 when, after working as a panel operator at Melbourne radio station 3AW, he went on air Christmas Morning ...

moved to weekends as he recovered from cancer, Riddell moved to the weeknight bulletin in 2005 where he formed an enduring on-air partnership with

Jane Doyle Jane Doyle (born 9 February 1958) is a retired Australian television presenter who was best known for presenting ''Seven News'' in Adelaide between 1989 and 2022, having joined the Seven Network from ABC TV. Early career Doyle began as a sch ...

. While at Seven, Riddell also occasionally hosted the Adelaide edition of ''

Today Tonight ''Today Tonight'' was an Australian current affairs television program produced by the Seven Network. It aired from January 1995 to November 2019 in Adelaide and Perth. Editions in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne were previously produced be ...

''. He also hosted the documentary series '' The World Around Us'' and the local AFL program '' The Crows Show'', despite being an ambassador for

Port Adelaide Port Adelaide is a port-side region of Adelaide, approximately northwest of the Adelaide city centre, Adelaide CBD. It is also the namesake of the City of Port Adelaide Enfield council, a suburb, a federal and state electoral division and is t ...

. He also anchored Seven's coverage of South Australian state elections. However in a 2019 interview, he admitted that he would have said no to hosting election coverage if he'd been able to. Riddell also continued to work in radio. From late 2007 to early 2012, he was a co-host on the

Mix 102.3 Mix 102.3 (call sign: 5ADD) is a commercial FM radio station in Adelaide, Australia, owned by ARN. Mix 102.3 plays current hits and a variety of 1980s and 1990s music (Hot Adult Contemporary), primarily targeted at the 25–54 age group. Ade ...

breakfast show, alongside Jason "Snowy" Carter and Jodie Oddy. With Carter, Riddell inaugurated an annual charity fundraiser called the West End Mighty River Run to raise money for

Novita Children's Services Novita is a South Australian disability organisation, providing support, services and equipment to children, teens and young adults living with disability, their families and carers. In August 2019, it was announced that scosa was to merge int ...

in 2006. Riddell briefly returned in radio in June 2012 filling in for Dale Lewis on

Triple M Adelaide Triple M Adelaide is a radio station broadcasting in Adelaide, Australia. Its target demographic is the 30–54 age group. Triple M Adelaide is part of Southern Cross Austereo's Triple M network and broadcasts on the 104.7 MHz frequency. Tripl ...

's ''Hot Breakfast''. After his 63rd birthday in September 2019, Riddell announced his retirement. His co-anchored his final ''Seven News'' bulletin on 6 December 2019. After his retirement, Jane Doyle continued as the sole anchor of the bulletin until her own retirement in late 2022. Following the South Australian bushfires of late 2019 and early 2020 which affected the

Adelaide Hills The Adelaide Hills region is located in the southern Mount Lofty Ranges east of the city of Adelaide in the state of South Australia. The largest town in the area, Mount Barker, South Australia, Mount Barker, is one of Australia's fastest-growi ...

and

Kangaroo Island Kangaroo Island (, ) is Australia's third-largest island, after Tasmania and Melville Island, Northern Territory, Melville Island. It lies in the state of South Australia, southwest of Adelaide. Its closest point to the mainland is Snapper Poi ...

, Riddell returned to Seven co-host a special "Book Them Out" edition of ''

SA Weekender ''SA Weekender'' is a travel, culture and lifestyle show featuring destinations throughout South Australia. The series first screened in 2017, replacing a similar series called ''SA Life'' and airs on Sundays at 5:30pm on the Seven Network in So ...

'' to help support the local communities.

Personal life

After his retirement, Riddell and his wife sold their apartment at Holdfast Shores and relocated to Victor Harbor.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Riddell, John Australian television newsreaders and news presenters Seven News presenters 1956 births Living people