"Apparently, my time is up": Veteran Channel 7 anchor's abrupt departure
Veteran Channel 7 anchor Sharyn Ghidella is leaving the network.
After an almost two-decade career at the broadcaster's Brisbane bureau, the evening co-presenter announced her abrupt departure in an all-staff email, which was seen by news.com.au, on Friday.
In the all-staff email reportedly seen by news.com.au, Ghidella said that her exit didn't pan out the way she'd hoped.
“After 17 years at 7, apparently, my time is up,” she wrote.
“It’s not quite how I expected it to end after 38 years in the industry, but hey, that’s TV.
“I will certainly miss the friendships and the fun we have had, around what is, the serious business of news.”
She was reportedly offered the opportunity to farewell viewers but declined.
“I’m making a clean break, and I probably won’t get the chance to bid you farewell in person,” Ghidella she continued in the email.
“But please know that I have held all of you in the highest regard during my time on the mountain and I thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, for everything you did to ensure we made it to air each night.”
Ghidella also shared a statement on her Facebook page, talking about the changes Seven has underwent recently, including introducing a comedy segment and horoscope report to their national news offering.
“I’m also not one to have my evening news served up with humour and horoscopes either, so, to be honest, it is time to go,” Ghidella wrote.
Former newspaper editor Anthony De Ceglie, who replaced Craig McPherson as the network’s news director in April has also commended Ghidella for her "significant contribution" to the station.
“We are grateful for her hard work and are sorry to see her go. She leaves with sincere thanks from everyone at Seven and our very best wishes for the future,” De Ceglie told news.com.au.
Seven Brisbane’s Director of News Michael Coombes added, “For 17 years, Sharyn has been a welcome guest in lounge rooms across Queensland – always professional, always reliable, always warm.
“But for all of us, she is so much more. A mentor, a colleague, a friend. I have nothing but admiration and gratitude for Sharyn. And we wish her every success for the future.”
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