Popular ABC presenter Tony Armstrong has announced a major career move.
The 34-year-old Logie winner will release his first book next month.
The book is called George the Wizard and is a picture book for children about a lonely wizard and his search for friends.
The television presenter created the new book together with illustrator Emma Sjaan Beukers.
Speaking to the Courier post On Friday, the former AFL star said he was initially approached to write a book about his football career, but opted to write a book for children.
“It’s about my reading level,” he joked about his latest project, which hits stores September 25.
He added: “I like to be in the world of fantasy and be a little bit crazy,” he adds.
‘Children’s books throw the rules even further out the window. It’s just feeling and emotion and I was drawn to that – the only thing holding you up is you.’
Popular ABC presenter Tony Armstrong (pictured) has announced a major career move. The 34-year-old Logie winner will release his first book next month
Tony, a proud Gamilaroi man from NSW, said he wanted to write a football book or ‘necessarily’ make a football book a story about indigenous peoples.
“Mainly because I think that’s what people expected,” he explained.I like to zigzag when that’s expected of me.’
This comes after Tony Armstrong looked almost unrecognizable after debuting his new look on ABC News last week.
The Australian sports presenter, who is known for his curly hair and trademark moustache, appeared with a new short buzzcut.
Created together with illustrator Emma Sjaan Beukers, the new book is called George the Wizard and is a picture book for children. Pictured: The cover
Although he has changed his hairstyle, the former AFL star has opted to retain his trademark moustache and beard.
The Sydney Swans star was a guest on the ABC morning program to discuss sports news, a regular role he has held since 2020.
His impressive TV career earned him a nomination for the prestigious Gold Logie last month, but he lost the award to TV veteran Larry Emdur.
He was also in the running for the award for most popular presenter, but the Bert Newton Award ultimately went to Larry from The Morning Show, who won the award by a landslide.
Michael Rowland, Tony’s ABC News Breakfast colleague, had previously joked that the TV star would have been “unbearable” if he had won the award.
Speaking to the Courier Mail on Friday, the ex-AFL star said he was initially approached to write a book about his football career, but opted to write a book for children. Pictured: Tony with his new look on ABC News last week
“To be honest, Tony will be unbearable if he wins the Gold Logie,” he joked ahead of the big night.
‘His head will swell to an abnormal size and he will need little encouragement to display his glittering trophy.’
“I’m willing to deal with this every morning because I honestly think he deserves the highest honor in television. And that’s no joke,” he added.
Tony made headlines this year after being nominated for a Gold Logie.
The handsome star has already won two Logies: in 2022 he won the Graham Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent and a year later he took home the Bert Newton Award for Most Popular Presenter.
