TORONTO — Months after CBC Radio dropped “As It Happens” personality Barbara Budd because it wanted a host with more journalism experience, the public broadcaster has replaced her with an actor/TV host best known as “Joe Canadian” from the popular Molson Canadian ad campaign.
CBC says Jeff Douglas will become the new co-host of the weeknight current affairs series on Jan. 4, alongside veteran broadcaster Carol Off.
The Nova Scotia-born Douglas guest hosted for a string of five shows recently and said that he was excited to join the series permanently.
“I’m a huge fan of CBC Radio, (Radio One) in particular, always have been,” said Douglas, whose TV credits include hosting History Television’s genealogy series “Ancestors in the Attic.”
“I love story, I love talking to people, I have an incredible interest in what is going on in the world and how that affects each of us personally, I guess, and I believe in sharing that. I believe in people knowing and being aware of what’s going on in the world and I love the way that this show does that.”
The 39-year-old replaces the veteran broadcaster Budd, a former stage actress who said she was shocked to learn her contract was not being renewed in April after 17 years on the air.
At the time, CBC said it wanted to focus on hosts who were also journalists.
CBC says Douglas has a “deep background in documentaries,” and cites a long list of TV hosting gigs that also include the National Geographic documentary series “Making History,” and the documentary series, “Things That Move” on National Geographic Canada.
Douglas admitted he has no journalism background, but said he brings a wealth of interviewing experience from television gigs which required him to juggle chats with experts on topics ranging from “Hitler to Stonehenge.”
“I’m learning a lot from these guys, they’re very generous as far as helping me to help them, I guess,” he said of the learning curve he faces at CBC.
“And letting me know where to go for sources for stories and stuff like that and I’m also learning about what kind of stories fly here, the voice of the show, the logic of the show, things like that. I’ll be throwing them out there as best I can based on what’s going on in the world and it’ll probably be a while before I get one of my stories on.”
Douglas said his pursuit of the job involved a series of auditions and interviews that spanned four months.
When he officially joins the team, he expects to be involved in story meetings and be very active with social media and fan outreach.
“I’m totally game for anything, someone has promised me that they will teach me how to how edit so I would love to help out there,” he said.
Douglas’s face and voice catapulted to the national consciousness when he starred in the popular “I Am Canadian” ads for Molson Canadian beer several years ago.
“Hopefully some people will recognize me from that, and also from the television work I’ve done,” he said.
———
On the Net: www.cbc.ca