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Trevor Chappell (radio presenter)
Trevor Chappell (radio presenter)
Trevor Chappell (radio presenter)
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Trevor Chappell (born 6 April 1961) is an Australian local radio presenter for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) based in Melbourne.

Key Information

Chappell is one of the two regular presenters of the Overnights program broadcast nationally from 2:00 am (AEST) to 6:00 am (or 5:30 am on some stations) on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings, when he was joined by a variety of regular guests each night.

Early life

[edit]

Chappell was born on 6 April 1961 in Western Australia.[2] After completing high school, he worked in a range of different jobs - including as a miner, wheat bins[clarification needed] in the far north-west, and as a builder's labourer.[3]

When he turned 21, Chappell moved to Victoria, where he studied teaching and then moved into youth work. Three years later, he enrolled in an acting course at the National Theatre, Melbourne.[3]

After encountering difficulties pursuing a career in acting, he moved back to Western Australia, choosing to study broadcasting at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).[3]

Career

[edit]

1995–2000: Early radio career

[edit]

Chappell attained his first job in radio working as a producer for 6PR in Perth, before moving back to Melbourne in 1995 in order to work as a casual producer at the ABC.

Chappell later produced programs for 774 AM Melbourne and for several Victorian regional radio stations.[3]

2003–present: Host of Overnights & Afternoons

[edit]
Main article: Overnights (radio show)

Chappell is the long-time host of the Overnights program Australia-wide on Monday to Thursday mornings (Rod Quinn hosts the program on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings) from 2:00 am to 6:00 am AEST (midnight to 4:00 am AWST).

The program features a "How, When, Where, Why" quiz on minutiae of pop culture: television, popular music, movies, comic books etc., which stimulates discussions within that framework, with only occasional excursions into real life events. Regular guests include Scott Goodings (on television). The light-hearted atmosphere evaporates for the second half of the program, when adult subjects are discussed at a mature level, with guest interviewees and talkback callers featuring heavily. An overwhelming proportion of listeners, or at least respondents who go to air, are male, many of whom identify themselves as truck drivers.[citation needed] The program may be heard live on the ABC's Internet service and is available to be heard online for the following seven days. Chappell had listeners in Monterrey, Mexico; Portland, Oregon; Cheung Chau, Hong Kong; Tokyo, Japan; and Denver, Colorado, Vancouver BC. Some callers during the quiz have said that Chappell did not give clues out during the quiz; however the technical operator and second host, Michael Pavlich, became known as a "massive clue giver".[citation needed]

In July 2023, ABC announced that Chappell will host afternoons on ABC Radio Melbourne after 23 years at helm of Overnights. In November 2024, ABC announced that Chappell will return to host Overnights.[4]

Personal life

[edit]

Chappell is married to his wife Cath.[2] He has a son, Finn, from a previous marriage.[5]

Interests

[edit]

Chappell enjoys surfing, golf and going to the beach.[3]

He is known for his dislike of the Beatles and his recall of the TV shows Owly's School, F Troop and popular Perth children's TV characters Fat Cat and Percy Penguin.[citation needed]

He is also a huge ABBA fan, with a special fondness for Bjorn; and he is known as a consummate Lapsang Souchong tea aficionado.[citation needed]

Awards and nominations

[edit]

ABC Local Radio Awards

[edit]
Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2002 Himself Best New Talent Won [3]
2004 Himself / Overnights Networked Program of the Year
2005
2006

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Trevor Chappell (radio presenter)

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Trevor Chappell (born 6 April 1961) is an Australian radio broadcaster and presenter, best known for hosting the national Overnights program on ABC Radio from 2003 to 2023 and since 2025, prior to which he hosted the afternoons slot on ABC Melbourne from 2023 to 2024. Raised in , Chappell held a variety of manual jobs—including work in mines, wheat bins, as a builder's labourer, and in pubs in Broome—before pursuing studies in teaching and youth work in his early twenties. He later trained in acting at Melbourne's National Theatre and studied broadcasting at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), which paved the way for his entry into radio. Chappell began his professional radio career as a producer at Perth's 6PR station, before joining the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in 1995 as a casual producer in . Over the years, he produced content for 774 ABC and Victorian Regional Radio, earning recognition with the ABC Local Radio Award for Best New Talent in 2002, followed by three consecutive wins as Host of Networked Program of the Year from 2004 to 2006. His signature Overnights show, co-hosted at times with Michael Pavlich, featured a mix of music, international guests, and engaging overnight conversation, building a dedicated audience across . In July 2023, after 23 years on the graveyard shift, Chappell transitioned to the more daytime-oriented Victorian Afternoons program on , replacing . He hosted the afternoons slot until 2024, before returning to Overnights in 2025.

Early life and education

Childhood in Western Australia

Trevor Chappell was born on 6 April 1961, a fact he confirmed in 2021 upon discovering an original hospital card that corrected his long-held belief of an April 7 birthday. He was raised in , where he spent his early years before pursuing and work opportunities. Chappell's family background includes his mother and a sister, both of whom reside in Perth, indicating strong familial ties to the region from his youth.

Early jobs and relocation to Victoria

After completing high school in , Trevor Chappell embarked on a series of manual labor positions that characterized his early working years. He took roles in the industry and on wheat bins in the remote north-west of the state, contributing to resource extraction and agricultural storage operations. Chappell also worked as a builder's labourer, assisting in projects across the region, and pulled pints as a in a in Broome, where he handled duties in a coastal outpost. These diverse, hands-on jobs honed a resilient work ethic influenced by his rural upbringing in . At age 21, Chappell relocated to Victoria to pursue opportunities in teaching and youth work roles, marking a significant transition from Western Australia's rugged landscapes to the more urbanized east.

Acting and broadcasting training

After relocating to Victoria in his early twenties, Trevor Chappell enrolled in an acting course at the National Theatre in , marking his initial formal pursuit of performance arts. This training, undertaken approximately three years after completing studies in teaching and youth work, provided foundational skills in dramatic expression and stage presence, though specific course details such as duration or curriculum modules are not publicly documented. Recognizing the challenges of establishing a sustainable in , Chappell shifted his focus toward , returning to to enroll in a broadcasting program at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). This specialized training honed his abilities in on-air communication, vocal delivery, and audience engagement, bridging his prior acting experience with the demands of radio performance. While exact program length or standout experiences remain unrecorded in available accounts, the WAAPA curriculum emphasized practical media production, which aligned with and amplified Chappell's growing interest in performative storytelling through broadcast media.

Career

Entry into radio (1995–2002)

Chappell's entry into the radio industry began with his first professional role as a at 6PR in Perth, where he honed foundational skills in program preparation and coordination before relocating to . In 1995, he transitioned to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) as a casual , marking his initial involvement with the public broadcaster. During his early years at the ABC, Chappell contributed to production for 774 ABC Melbourne, handling tasks such as scripting, guest coordination, and technical support for various broadcasts. He also extended his work to Victorian Regional Radio programs, producing content tailored to rural audiences across the state, which exposed him to diverse listener needs and regional storytelling formats. These roles built his expertise in behind-the-scenes operations, gradually opening pathways to on-air contributions as he demonstrated reliability and creative input in program development. A pivotal milestone came in 2002 when Chappell received the Best New Talent award at the ABC Local Radio Awards, recognizing his emerging prowess in production and potential for presenting. This accolade, earned through standout contributions to local and regional programming, underscored his rapid growth within the organization and paved the way for future hosting opportunities.

Hosting Overnights (2000–2023)

In 2000, Trevor Chappell was appointed as the host of ABC's national Overnights program, broadcasting from on weeknights from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. AEST, through Thursday. The role built on his prior experience as a producer for 774 ABC and Victorian regional radio since joining the ABC in 1995. The program's format centered on providing overnight companionship through a mix of curated music selections, interviews with Australian and international guests, and open listener call-ins, fostering a sense of connection for night-shift workers, insomniacs, and late-night listeners across the . Topics spanned diverse themes, including science, travel, food, music, books, , , , astronomy, fashion, gardening, relationships, and collectables, with episodes often featuring expert guests to explore these subjects in depth. Chappell's approach emphasized engaging storytelling and responsive interaction, creating a tight-knit among regular callers who shared personal experiences and formed lasting bonds over the airwaves. During his tenure, Overnights achieved significant recognition, winning the Networked Program of the Year award at the ABC Local Radio Awards in 2004, 2005, and 2006, highlighting its impact on national audiences. The audience grew into a dedicated nationwide following drawn from all walks of life, with Chappell noting the program's role in building deep, ongoing relationships with listeners who tuned in consistently for the supportive environment. A key milestone came in 2020, marking 20 years on air, during which Chappell reflected on the unique demands of the graveyard shift, including maintaining a semi-nocturnal and adapting to the of late-night while delivering reliable companionship. Notable episodes during this period included themed discussions on emerging scientific discoveries and global travel experiences, which exemplified the program's evolution toward more interactive and topical content amid changing listener interests.

Transition to Afternoons (2023–2024)

In July 2023, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation announced that Trevor Chappell would transition from hosting the national Overnights program to the Afternoons slot on , replacing who had stepped away from the role. Chappell began presenting Afternoons on July 31, 2023, airing weekdays from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm AEST, initially until the end of the year. This move followed his 23-year tenure on Overnights, positioning him to engage a daytime audience after years of late-night broadcasting. The Afternoons program emphasized local Melbourne content, including news updates, community discussions, and talk segments designed to inform and entertain listeners during peak daytime hours. It featured a mix of interviews with local figures, coverage of Victorian events, and interactive elements to foster listener connection, shifting from the broader national scope of Overnights to more regionally focused storytelling. Chappell's role was extended full-time into 2024 as part of ABC Melbourne's lineup, allowing him to build on this local emphasis throughout the period. Chappell expressed excitement about the change, noting it would allow him to "get some sleep and meet new people" while adapting to a daytime schedule after decades of overnight shifts. He reflected on missing the deep connections formed with Overnights listeners over more than two decades but anticipated forming new bonds in the afternoons. By late 2024, Chappell described his time in the slot as enjoyable, highlighting the pleasure of daytime interactions despite the adjustment from nocturnal hours. Audience and colleague feedback was positive, with ABC's acting local manager praising Chappell as "one of the nicest men in radio" and a welcome daytime presence.

Return to Overnights (2025–present)

In November 2024, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) announced that would return to hosting the national Overnights program on ABC Radio starting in 2025, following his stint on the Afternoons slot at . This move allowed Chappell to resume his role after a two-year period focused on daytime broadcasting, which he described as an enjoyable experience but one that contrasted with his preference for the overnight format's national reach. Chappell expressed enthusiasm for reuniting with his longstanding audience across , emphasizing the unique connection fostered during late-night broadcasts. Under the 2025 schedule, Chappell hosts Overnights from to , airing from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. AEST, with Michael Pavlich serving as a co-presenter and occasional fill-in host. Pavlich, who had previously covered for Chappell during his absence, contributes to segments on and other topics, enhancing the program's collaborative dynamic. This arrangement ensures continuity while accommodating leave periods, such as Rod Quinn's from March 2025 onward for weekend shifts, during which Pavlich takes over those slots. By November 2025, Chappell's return has steered Overnights toward a refreshed emphasis on diverse late-night content, including conversations on food, travel, science, and global affairs, alongside curated music selections from Australian and international artists. Listener engagement remains strong, with regular episodes featuring guest interviews and open-line discussions, maintaining the program's role as a national companion for overnight audiences. The format continues to prioritize accessibility and variety, adapting to contemporary topics while honoring its tradition of fostering community interaction across time zones.

Broadcasting style and public persona

Program format and listener engagement

Trevor Chappell's Overnights program on ABC Radio, broadcast nationally from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m., features a structured format centered on curated music selections drawn from Australian and international artists, interspersed with guest interviews and open lines for listener contributions. The show covers diverse topics including , , , music, books, , , , astronomy, , , relationships, and collectables, creating a broad conversational flow that encourages exploration of everyday and niche interests. Listeners engage through phone calls to 1300 800 222 or SMS to 0437 774 774, sharing personal stories that Chappell integrates into the broadcast, fostering a sense of connection during late-night hours. Engagement techniques on Overnights emphasize building community among insomniacs, shift workers, and night owls, with Chappell facilitating empathetic and inclusive discussions that validate callers' experiences in vulnerable times. Themed segments emerge organically from listener input and guest expertise, such as explorations of astronomy or relationships, which help cultivate a tight-knit that values the program's role as a nocturnal companion. This interactive approach has refined over Chappell's two decades in the slot, enhancing the format's appeal through consistent refinement. In 2025, following an announcement in November , Chappell returned to hosting Overnights (Monday to Thursday), where his established warm and conversational style continues to prioritize listener engagement and during the overnight hours. During his tenure on ABC Radio Melbourne's Afternoons program from 2023 to , Chappell adapted to a more news-driven structure with a strong local focus, incorporating updates on traffic, weather, and community events alongside entertainment and music selections. Listener engagement shifted to daytime interactions, encouraging stories on , , health, and local issues, while maintaining open lines for real-time contributions that reflect 's daily rhythm. Overall, Chappell's style employs a warm, conversational tone ideally suited to both solitary overnight reflections and communal afternoon dialogues, prioritizing and rapport with diverse audiences.

Mistaken identity with cricketer Trevor Chappell

The radio presenter shares his name with the Australian cricketer (born 1952), the younger brother of former Test captains and , who represented in three matches and 20 s during the . Throughout his broadcasting career, Chappell has frequently encountered with the cricketer, particularly due to the latter's notoriety from the 1981 underarm bowling incident in a against . Listeners and fans have sent letters and made public assumptions linking the two, often addressing Chappell as if he were the former player or inquiring about his supposed cricketing past. On his ABC radio , callers regularly ask if he is the individual responsible for the underarm delivery, leading to repeated clarifications that he has no connection to the sport or the Chappell family. In a 2023 , Chappell admitted that this confusion has "dogged" his entire 23-year career at the ABC, with the national profile of his Overnights program amplifying such mix-ups among a broad audience. He has addressed it humorously on-air and in media, such as quipping, "I don’t bowl underarm," and recounting anecdotes like a New Zealand play that featured both the broadcaster and the cricketer in a fictional discussion of the incident. Despite occasional family speculation about a distant relation—prompting Chappell to investigate Cornish heritage links in —no verified connection exists, and he continues to use these encounters to engage listeners lightheartedly.

Personal life

Family

Trevor Chappell is married to Cath, who has been a key part of his , including assisting him in uncovering family documents that revealed his true birthdate in 2021. Chappell has a son, Finn. Father and son share a strong bond, demonstrated through shared adventures such as a 2022 road trip across from Perth to and Coral Bay, where they navigated compromises on daily routines, explored gorges, and discussed local wildlife encounters like . Chappell's long career on the overnight radio program, spanning over two decades until 2023, required him to maintain a semi-nocturnal lifestyle. During his 2023 transition to the afternoons program and upon returning to overnights in 2025, he navigated these career changes.

Interests and hobbies

Chappell maintains a strong passion for surfing and beach activities, pursuits that align with his lifelong connection to coastal environments from growing up in . He frequently spends time riding waves and relaxing by the sea, viewing these as essential escapes from his professional routine. In addition to water-based hobbies, Chappell enjoys , often hitting the course to unwind and practice his swing during off-hours. This sport provides him with a structured yet leisurely way to stay active outdoors. Chappell also cherishes time spent with his family in casual leisure settings, such as outings, where he creates memorable moments away from the studio.

Discovery of true birthdate

For much of his life, Trevor Chappell believed his birthday was April 7, 1961, a date passed down by his family that led to ongoing confusion about his exact birth time and day. This misunderstanding persisted through decades, affecting how he marked the occasion annually despite vague recollections from his early years. In 2021, while conducting , Chappell uncovered a hospital card from his birth in , revealing he was actually born on April 6, 1961, at 5:30 p.m. the previous day. Verification through Western Australian birth records confirmed the April 6 date, resolving the discrepancy. On April 6, 2021, Chappell celebrated his actual 60th birthday for the first time, marking the milestone with a sense of newfound clarity. The discovery received media attention in an ABC News article, where he reflected on the surprise and noted that similar mix-ups are more common than expected, as further checks on his showed others had faced analogous errors.

Awards and recognition

ABC Local Radio Awards wins

In 2002, Trevor Chappell won the Best New Talent award at the ABC Local Radio Awards, shortly after transitioning from his role as a producer to becoming the presenter of the Overnights program. This accolade highlighted his rapid impact in engaging late-night listeners across the network. Building on this early recognition, Chappell secured the Networked Program of the Year award at the ABC Local Radio Awards for three consecutive years—2004, 2005, and 2006—as the host of Overnights. These wins underscored the program's success in fostering national conversations and community connections during overnight hours.

Nominations and industry acknowledgment

Chappell's career has received notable industry acknowledgment through media profiles highlighting his unique path from diverse roles in , youth work, and production to becoming a staple overnight broadcaster. A 2006 profile in praised the quality of his show, stating it was "as good as anything on daytime radio," underscoring his appeal to a wide of shift workers and night owls. His longevity on ABC Overnights has been celebrated as a key milestone, with a 2020 ABC reflection marking 20 years on air and emphasizing the tight-knit community of thousands of regular listeners who tune in nightly. By 2023, after 23 years in the role, industry commentary in The Guardian hailed his tenure as "incredible," recognizing his enduring contribution to national talk radio. Schedule changes from 2023 to further affirm ABC's sustained value in Chappell's expertise, as he transitioned to afternoons before returning to Overnights in , allowing him to reunite with his dedicated audience. These developments build on his earlier successes, solidifying his status as a reliable voice in Australian .

References

  1. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-06/abc-presenter-trevor-chappell-celebrates-real-birthday-first/100041698
  2. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/abcs-longterm-national-overnight-host-trevor-chappell-finally-sees-the-light/news-story/ecc75be8890efcaee08e74e07c79d9e9
  3. https://radiotoday.com.au/trevor-chappell-to-replace-jacinta-parsons-on-abc-melbourne-afternoons/
  4. https://www.abc.net.au/about/media-centre/press-releases/brigitte-duclos-joins-774-abc-melbourne-in-2025/104631580
  5. https://www.abc.net.au/listen/trevor-chappell/7347210
  6. https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/overnights
  7. https://www.abc.net.au/melbourne/on-the-home-stretch-with-trevor-chappell/13813064
  8. https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/fashionably-late-20070906-ge5r3m.html
  9. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2001-06-08/grannys-recipe-for-cornish-pasties/8938898
  10. https://www.abc.net.au/profiles/content/s1857309.htm?site=local
  11. https://www.abc.net.au/profiles/content/s1857309.htm?site=eyre
  12. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-26/trevor-chappell-reflects-on-20-years-of-overnights/12918832
  13. https://www.abc.net.au/profiles/content/s1857309.htm?site=wheatbelt
  14. https://www.facebook.com/abcnews.au/posts/the-overnights-presenter-has-spent-the-past-20-years-living-a-semi-nocturnal-lif/10161940543309988/
  15. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-27/trevor-chappell-abc-radio-melbourne-afternoons-jacinta-parsons/102650020
  16. https://radioinfo.com.au/news/from-overnights-to-afternoons-for-abc-radio-melbournes-trevor-chappell/
  17. https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/melbourne-afternoons/afternoons/104609020
  18. https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/ali-moore-lands-full-time-drive-gig-as-abc-melbourne-locks-in-2024-line-up-20231205-p5epa3.html
  19. http://radioindustrynews.com.au/index.php/2024/11/21/
  20. https://radioinfo.com.au/news/abc-overnights-rod-quinn-to-take-lsl-for-rest-of-2025/
  21. https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/melbourne-afternoons
  22. https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/melbourne-afternoons/afternoons/12453270
  23. https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/trevor-chappell-4561
  24. https://www.abc.net.au/melbourne/trevor-chappell-on-moonta/13372224
  25. https://www.abc.net.au/melbourne/trevor-chappell-wa/101347730
  26. https://www.abc.net.au/melbourne/wa-part-1/13880602
  27. http://radioindustrynews.com.au/index.php/2024/11/21/brigitte-duclos-joins-774-abc-melbourne-in-2025/
  28. https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/a-welcome-voice-in-the-wee-small-hours-20061005-ge39ht.html
  29. https://www.theguardian.com/media/commentisfree/2023/jul/28/qa-abc-cancellation-fears-stan-grant-executive-producer-quits
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