Deborah Roberts called ‘perfect choice’ as she celebrates major 20/20 anchor role

Deborah Roberts proudly shared the career milestone of a lifetime when she announced she had officially become co-anchor of ABC’s 20/20 — a role she said left her both “thrilled” and “humbled.”

Standing beside David Muir in a polished promotional photo, Roberts revealed the big news to fans on Instagram, telling followers she was honored to step into the high-profile role on one of television’s most respected newsmagazines. The announcement marked a major moment in her long ABC News career, and industry coverage at the time confirmed she had officially been named co-anchor of 20/20.

In her message, Roberts made clear just how much the opportunity meant to her. She said she was proud to help carry forward the legacy of a program that has spent decades delivering in-depth reporting and unforgettable interviews, tracing that tradition back to pioneers such as Barbara Walters and Hugh Downs. Roberts also reflected on the significance of following a path that earlier female journalists helped carve out.

The promotion was especially notable because it came after a period of change at 20/20. Roberts became the first officially announced co-anchor following Amy Robach’s departure, placing her alongside David Muir at the front of one of ABC’s flagship programs.

Fans and colleagues reacted with immediate enthusiasm. Social media responses at the time were overwhelmingly positive, with many calling Roberts the obvious and deserving choice. That reaction made sense: she had already built a long reputation at ABC News as a respected correspondent and interviewer, so for many viewers the move felt less like a surprise than a long-overdue recognition of work she had been doing for years.

Even David Muir publicly showed his excitement, and the response around the announcement underscored something important about Roberts’ standing inside ABC News. People were not simply congratulating her on landing a big title. They were celebrating someone they felt had genuinely earned it.

For Roberts, the role represented more than a promotion. It was a symbolic moment — one that connected her own career to the broader history of women in broadcast journalism, while also confirming her place at the center of one of ABC’s most enduring programs.

So yes, it was huge news.

Just not new news.