Familiar face Joel Dry is set to rejoin the 9News Queensland team, co-anchoring the 6:00 PM bulletin with Melissa Downes starting this August. This homecoming marks a full circle moment for Dry, whose television reporting career began with Nine in Adelaide back in September 2009. He’s no stranger to Queensland either, having previously worked in the Brisbane newsroom.
Dry steps into the role vacated by Andrew “Lofty” Lofthouse, who retired earlier this year. It’s a significant shift for the flagship news program, and one that Downes seems genuinely enthusiastic about.
“This is an exciting time for 9News Queensland, a regeneration, and I know the team will be just as delighted as I am to have Joel joining me on the 6.00pm news desk,” Downes shared.
Director of 9News Queensland, Brendan Hockings, echoed the sentiment, highlighting Dry’s deep understanding of the region. “Joel’s deep understanding of Queensland and his proven track record make him the ideal choice to partner with Melissa,” Hockings noted. “We know our audience will warmly welcome him to the 6.00pm bulletin.”
Currently, Dry is in the UK, accompanying his wife, Jessica Milward, who is Nine’s Europe Correspondent. Incidentally, Dry and Milward first met while working together at 9News Queensland. Milward, also a highly regarded journalist, will be returning to Brisbane later in 2025, a move that will reunite the couple both professionally and personally. The couple originally revealed their engagement live on the Today show in 2016 and exchanged vows in 2018.
