Now
here’s a curious development at ABC Local radio’s 702 in Sydney. Ellen Fanning
isn’t filling in for Sally Loane this week. That job has gone to Steve Liebmann, the former Today
Show host, who’s getting a second and unexpected week of work in the 9am to noon
slot on Everyone’s ABC.

It
seems Ellen Fanning is staying at Nine to fill in for Ray Martin, or that was
the story late last week from Nine.

Perhaps Fanning is hanging around at Nine because she sniffs a looming vacancy at A Current Affair and wants to be on hand
to put her best foot forward.

Meanwhile, in the breakfast slot on 702, James
Valentine (who’s filling in until a permanent replacement is found for
Angela Catterns) continues to divide his audience: not many women are
calling, but it must be said he did well last Friday following up the London bombings.

The
biggest surprise was the appearance last week of Wendy Harmer in the Richard
Glover drive spot. You
have to wonder why Harmer is
getting this gig, given that she’s heading for the new DMG FM station in Sydney to join Catterns. Harmer will do
mornings, taking on screamer Ray Hadley on 2GB and John laws on 2UE. Is the ABC
in Sydney now
a transit lounge for commercial radio?