This Day Tonight
| Company type | Television program |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television broadcasting |
| Founded | April 10, 1967 |
| Founder | Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) |
| Defunct | 1978 |
| Fate | Cancelled; succeeded by Nationwide |
| Headquarters | Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra , Australia |
| Products | Evening current affairs television program |
| Parent | Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) |
This Day Tonight (TDT) was an evening current affairs program broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) from 1967 until 1978.
Origins and overview
Launching on 10 April 1967, TDT became Australia's first nightly current affairs television program, building upon the ABC's acclaimed journalistic efforts that had begun with the weekly show Four Corners.
The initial presenter was journalist Bill Peach, who fronted the show for eight years. The founding production team featured executive producer Allan Martin and producers Sam Lipski, Ken Chown (Sydney), and Bill Pritchard (Melbourne). Reporting staff included Gerald Stone, Frank Bennett, Peter Luck, and Gordon Bick based in Sydney; Gerald Lyons, Mike Crewdson, and Brian King from Melbourne; and Eric Hunter stationed in Canberra. Mike Willesee served as the program’s inaugural full-time political correspondent. Contributions of original reports frequently came from the Melbourne bureau. Clive Hale presented a version tailored for South Australian audiences.
The concept originated with ABC Director of Television Ken Watts, who drew inspiration from the BBC’s successful Tonight program in the United Kingdom. Watts assigned ABC Drama producer Storry Walton to scout talent for a Sydney-centered production initially named Tonight. Early selections included Bill Peach as host and Mike Willesee, hired after an impressive interview. Producers Lipski and Chown were brought on to manage the daily format alongside Pritchard in Melbourne.
Watts enlisted Allan Martin—who brought significant experience from London television, including work on the BBC’s Tonight format—to serve as executive producer. Martin arrived in late February 1967 and faced a tight six-week schedule to launch the show despite limited resources. He circulated a comprehensive memo detailing operational plans spanning Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra, and confirmed the program’s new title as This Day Tonight to differentiate it from its British counterpart.
Distinguished journalist and filmmaker Tim Bowden also contributed as a producer, working alongside fellow producers Stuart Littlemore and John Crew.
Journalistic personnel
TDT functioned as a formative platform for many leading Australian television journalists such as Gerald Stone (who later produced Australian 60 Minutes), Richard Carleton, Caroline Jones, Sonia Humphrey, Mike Willesee, George Negus, Mike Carlton, Allan Hogan, and Peter Couchman.
The program gained a reputation for incisive interviews—refined by Carlton and Negus—that subjected Australian politicians to rigorous questioning rarely seen at the time. It introduced the innovative "empty chair" approach to highlight politicians who refused to participate. The editorial tone of TDT was notably irreverent, exemplified by a musical comedy sketch lampooning then-NSW Premier Robert Askin’s reputed reaction to anti-war demonstrators during U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson’s visit.
Moreover, TDT became well known for its annual April Fool’s Day segments, which included inventive hoaxes such as the "Dial-O-Fish" electronic fishing device, a fabricated story about the Sydney Opera House sinking, and a spoof on adopting decimal time. These pranks sparked considerable viewer interaction and responses.
Production Team
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Allan Martin | Executive Producer (EP) |
| Sam Lipski | Producer based in Sydney |
| Ken Chown | Sydney Producer |
| Bill Pritchard | Producer located in Melbourne |
| Tim Bowden | Producer |
| Stuart Littlemore | General Producer |
| John Crew | General Producer |
Presenters and Correspondents
| Name | Position |
| Bill Peach | Host (1967–1975) |
| Gerald Stone | Correspondent, Sydney |
| Frank Bennett | Correspondent, Sydney |
| Peter Luck | Sydney Correspondent |
| Gordon Rick | Sydney Correspondent |
| Gerard Lyons | Correspondent, Melbourne |
| Mike Crewdson | Melbourne Correspondent |
| Brian King | Melbourne Correspondent |
| Eric Hunter | Initially Canberra Correspondent; subsequently Melbourne Correspondent succeeding Mike Crewdson |
| Mike Willesee | Political Correspondent |
| Iain Finlay | South East Asia Correspondent |
Awards
TDT was honoured with numerous accolades, such as the Logie Award for "Best New Program" in 1967, the "Personal Effort Award – Special Commendation, Production Current Affairs" awarded to Allan Martin, the 1971 award for "Most Outstanding Coverage of Political Affairs," and the 1977 recognition for "Outstanding Contribution to TV Journalism."
Cancellation
The program was discontinued in 1978 and succeeded by Nationwide. The current affairs segment at 7:30 was later revived in 1986 with the launch of The 7.30 Report.