Veteran ABC radio presenter Chris Bath has announced the “very difficult” decision to quit her coveted role after less than a year, just weeks after she announced her shock exit from Channel 10.

Radio presenter Chris Bath has announced her shock resignation from ABC Radio Sydney Drive, less than a year after taking on the coveted role.

Bath, 58, announced the “very difficult” decision to step down from the show live on Monday afternoon, to focus on “passion projects”.

“As I’m sure you know, timing in life is a funny thing. What the world throws at you is not always under your control,” Bath said.

“My dream is to create a show with a real community focus.

“Where you can take a break from the news cycle and perhaps find out a bit more about the things that aren’t dominating news during the week, but are still really interesting and deserve attention.

“So I have made a very difficult decision. It’s been a really tough one to make, to be honest with you, but…I’ve decided to step down from Drive to pursue some passion projects and different opportunities away from the news cycle that have been beckoning for years.”

Bath will not leave radio entirely, presenting a new Sunday radio program on 702 ABC Radio Sydney and across NSW airing from 10am to 12pm.

The journalist said the new gig will allow her to connect with listeners about her passion projects and “perhaps explore theirs too.”

Radio presenter Chris Bath has announced her shock resignation from ABC Radio Sydney Drive. Picture: ABC Radio Sydney Drive Presenter
“That show will be statewide, and my dream is to create a show that is community-focused.

“The new show will be an antidote to the relentlessness of the news cycle, celebrating people doing great things across NSW, and creating that sense of community that ABC local radio does so well.”

ABC NewsRadio Breakfast and Background Briefing on Radio National presenter Thomas Oriti will succeed Bath from next year.

Oriti said it was a “real privilege” to be joining Drive as a presenter.

“ABC Radio Sydney has always been part of my life,” he said.

“I grew up listening to it, and it’s shaped the way I think about journalism and storytelling.

“I’m excited to connect with listeners across the city and continue the tradition of thoughtful, engaging radio.”

Bath suceeded 67-year-old veteran Drive host Richard Glover last November when he exited the show after 26 years.

Speaking about taking over his plum post at the time, Bath said she was “excited, daunted and a little bit scared and nervous”

“I’m still in a bit of disbelief. I always thought that Richard was going to be there forever.

“Every time I sit in that chair, I have a pretty healthy dose of impostor syndrome because I don’t know how anyone could be as good a broadcaster as Richard.”

Bath initially increased the show’s audience share to 7.2 per cent in March, but it fell to 4.7 per cent in August, before rebuilding last month.

She announced in October she was stepping down from her role as weekend presenter at Channel 10 after nearly a decade, as the TV veteran significantly scales back her media obligations.

Bath is set to leave the network at the end of the year after seven years.

She will be replaced by Georgie Tunny, 34, who was hired by the network in 2022 as presenter on The Project, according to news.com.au.

The network scrapped The Project in June due to high production costs.

Insiders revealed Bath, who hosted a national Saturday evening bulletin, as well as a Perth bulletin and a one-hour Sunday evening bulletin across both markets, was considered too expensive for the network to keep.