The ABC Insiders 25th anniversary special will bring founding host Barrie Cassidy back to the program’s couch for the first time since his 2019 retirement.
Current host David Speers will be joined by Cassidy, The Australian Editor-at-Large Paul Kelly and political journalist Karen Middleton for the milestone edition on Sunday 9 August.
For viewers, the special offers a rare reunion of the program’s past and present leadership. Moreover, it arrives as Australian politics, media and public trust continue to undergo major change.
Barrie Cassidy returns to Insiders
Cassidy launched Insiders in July 2001 and remained its host until stepping away in 2019. Now, his return will give the panel an opportunity to look back at the political stories and media changes that have shaped the past quarter-century.
Alongside Speers, Kelly and Middleton, Cassidy will consider how Australian politics and political reporting have evolved since the program began. In particular, the discussion will examine changes in who Australians elect and how election campaigns are fought.
The anniversary edition will also revisit memorable moments from the program’s extensive archive. Therefore, the episode will be both a celebration of Insiders and an examination of the forces reshaping national politics.
Twenty-five years of political change
When Insiders first aired, the Australian political and media landscape looked markedly different. Since then, the traditional two-party system has weakened while independents and minor parties have taken a larger role in the national conversation.
At the same time, trust in democratic institutions has become a central concern. Technology has also transformed the speed and tone of political debate, with digital platforms and new media voices challenging established reporting models.
Consequently, the anniversary panel will draw on two-and-a-half decades of experience to consider the pressures facing Australian politics in 2026. The ABC says the discussion will explore challenges that would have been difficult to imagine a generation ago.
An enduring Sunday morning fixture
Over 25 years, Insiders has established itself as a major part of the ABC’s Sunday morning schedule. Each week, the program combines interviews, political analysis, commentary and discussion of the week’s national affairs.
Speers now leads the program with a rotating panel of political journalists and commentators. Meanwhile, the anniversary edition provides space to reflect on the show’s history without losing sight of the current political landscape.
The return of Cassidy is central to that reflection. However, the inclusion of Kelly and Middleton will ensure the discussion also draws on long-term reporting experience from across Australian political journalism.
When to watch the Insiders anniversary special
Insiders – 25th Anniversary Special airs Sunday 9 August at 9.00am on ABC TV, ABC News Channel and ABC iview.
Viewers can also find recent episodes through the public Insiders page on ABC iview.
Read TV Central’s coverage of the 2026 Insiders Budget Special. For more ABC television news, visit TV Central’s ABC section.
