Robert Irwin, host of Network 10’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! has been named Australia’s most popular broadcast personality for the second consecutive year in the 2025 Australian Talent Index’s Top Talent Report from Talent Corp, released on 20 October.
Irwin has been named the most popular broadcast personality by both male and female audiences. He was closely followed by comedian, podcaster, and TV personality Andy Lee, who has, for the first time, ranked ahead of his long-time comedic partner, Hamish Blake.
KIIS FM radio host Kyle Sandilands was considered Australia’s most controversial broadcaster again in 2025, followed by comedian Jim Jefferies.
Irwin has been a rising star in Australia, winning a Logie in 2013 for Most Popular New Male Talent following the TV series Steve Irwin’s Wildlife Warriors, and earning nominations for Most Popular Presenter and the Gold Logie in 2024. He has expanded his global profile in 2025 through the launch of his US Bonds campaign and his current participation in Dancing with the Stars USA.
Rebecca Gibney has also come out strong in the Top Talent Report, making her debut in 2025 on the overall list at no. 4 and ranking as the most popular female broadcast celebrity. Others in the Top 40 Broadcast Talent list include comedians, chefs, sports stars, journalists, and radio personalities.
Compared to the 2024 list, Dr Chris Brown has slipped one place to no. 5, celebrity chef Manu Feildel has been usurped by comedian Glenn Robbins, while singer Marcia Hines has made her debut in the Top 10 this year, along with tennis legend Todd Woodbridge and celebrity chef Poh Ling Yeow. Comedian Kitty Flanagan, journalists Peter Overton, Ally Langdon, and Natalie Barr, and Sophie Monk have dropped out of the Top 10 this year.
The Talent Index also charts the most popular celebrities across radio only, with Amanda Keller, Carrie Bickmore, and David Hughes taking out the top three spots.
“I’m beyond thrilled! I’ve always said that doing breakfast radio feels like talking to friends every morning – sometimes oversharing with friends, if I’m honest. To know people are still listening, laughing, and connecting means the world. It’s such a privilege to do what I love every day – even if it does mean keeping Jonesy in line!” GOLD 101.7 Breakfast co-host, Amanda Keller, said.
Across TV only, the top three celebrities are Robert Irwin, Andy Lee, and Hamish Blake.
The Top Talent Report showcases the latest findings of the Australian Talent Index, a talent measurement system that gauges consumers’ awareness, attitudes, and sentiments towards a range of Australian talent, including celebrities, broadcasters, comedians, sports stars, and chefs. This year, a nationally representative sample of more than 4,000 Australians was surveyed by Lewers Research, rating more than 500 personalities, and providing comments on how they felt about each one across a number of measures.
“The Talent Index was created to meet the industry’s need for robust, data-driven metrics that measure a personality’s appeal, which goes far beyond social media likes and engagement. Our 2025 Talent Index confirms that audiences respond strongly to personalities who combine authenticity with reach. Robert Irwin topping the list again demonstrates the commercial power of a celebrity whose appeal is both broad and trusted,” Talent Corp managing director Mark Noakes said.
The Australian Talent Index is calculated by subtracting the proportion of people who disliked a personality from those who liked or loved them, giving each a score ranging from -100 (universally disliked) through to +100 (universally liked).
Veteran Seven Network journalist and newsreader Chris Reason is considered Australia’s most trusted broadcaster, followed by chef and TV presenter Karen Martini and 10 News sports presenter Tara Rushton.
New host of Network 10’s Big Brother, Nova radio announcer and Network 10’s Cheap Seats Cultural Correspondent, Mel Tracina, is the most likable broadcast personality, followed by celebrity cook and TV host, of former MasterChef fame, Courtney Roulston.
Australian comedian Aaron Chen is considered Australia’s most entertaining broadcast talent in 2025, followed by TV presenter and social media star Jimmy Rees and actor and comedian Glenn Robbins.
Podcaster Mitch Churi has been named the most relatable broadcast personality for the second year running.
In the TV and radio battle for breakfast, Nine’s Today show co-host Karl Stefanovic tops the list, narrowly beating KIIS FM Breakfast co-host Kyle Sandilands and Nova Sydney Breakfast co-host Kate Ritchie.
Nine’s Peter Overton topped the list once again in 2025 as Australia’s most trustworthy news broadcaster, followed by the Seven Network’s Mark Ferguson.
Curtis Stone topped this year’s list, followed by Manu Feildel and Matt Preston.
The most respected sports presenter was former AFL player and coach, and now Seven Network and 3AW commentator Leigh Matthews, followed by Seven’s Bruce McAvaney and former netballer and Nine commentator, Catherine Cox.
Sam Pang came out as the top comedian this year, followed by Dave Hughes and Hamish Blake.
“For marketers, the Index is more than a popularity ranking; it’s a data-driven tool that highlights which personalities can deliver the broadest possible audience appeal within a campaign’s target demographic that you won’t be able to find in ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini,” Noakes said.
“The Talent Index continues to provide an unparalleled view of how talent resonates with Australians, and we are excited to be involved again in 2025. This year, we’ve seen firsthand the impact of well-executed partnerships, like Robert Irwin’s US Bonds campaign, which connected with audiences on both emotional and commercial levels across the globe,” Lewers founder and managing partner Lisa Lewers said.
“For marketers, understanding these insights is critical. It’s not just about awareness or visibility; it’s about knowing which personalities drive brand perception, engagement, and ultimately, ROI,” Lewers added.
Celebrity endorsements are a central part of today’s marketing landscape, with brands investing millions to collaborate with personalities who can authentically influence audiences.
