Veteran TV presenter Sharyn Ghidella has dished the details on how Network 10 poached her after she was shockingly axed by its rival Channel Seven.
Known as the face of Seven News in Queensland, Ghidella, 57, shocked fans last month when she confirmed she had been sacked after 17 years amid a string of media job cuts.
However, her abrupt exit was followed by the surprising news she was moving to its rival Network 10 to anchor its 5pm Queensland news bulletin with fellow Seven star Liz Cantor.
Now, Ghidella has revealed exactly how the job offer came about, admitting she hadn’t secured the exciting new gig before her axing from Seven.
She revealed she received a call from Erin Edwards, Executive Editor 10 News First Queensland, but thought it was just to give her support, rather than a job offer.
‘I just thought it was a lovely, friendly ”Sorry about what’s happened to you”, but she was forward-planning and thinking ahead,’ she told TV Tonight.
Edwards arranged for Ghidella – who started off her career at Network 10 more than two decades ago – to have a chat with the head of broadcast news, Martin White.
‘I think by the next week, Martin had called me, and it was like, ”Can we meet?” Next minute, I was signing a contract,’ she explained.
Veteran TV presenter Sharyn Ghidella has dished the details on how Network 10 poached her after she was shockingly axed by its rival Channel Seven
Her abrupt exit was quickly followed by the surprising news she was stepping over to Seven’s rival Network 10 to anchor its 5pm Queensland news bulletin alongside Liz Cantor
Ghidella shared her hopes that viewers will tune in to watch her show on Network 10 in an apparent swipe at Seven, which will have a rival bulletin airing at the same time.
She also appeared to take aim at Seven’s rebranding of its news programming, which includes comedian Mark Humphries doing a comedy skit at 6.57pm and an astrology report from ‘Astro Tash’.
‘I can’t tell you how many people, when I’m out and about, have come up to me and said, ”It’s great 10 is bringing local news back to Queensland, we’ll be tuning in!”’, she shared.
‘So I am crossing a lot of fingers and toes that those viewers will be there. There seems to be a real desire out there for straightforward news, a really strong bulletin, sound journalism, a lot of local as well as national and international news.
‘That’s what 10 does so beautifully,’ she added.
Her move to the network will bring the 10 News First show back to its Brisbane studios after years of it being read from Sydney.
Sharyn described her new job as a ‘full-circle moment’ as she returns to Network 10 after beginning her metro news career with the channel back in 1990.
‘I wonder if my security tag still works,’ she joked in a video announcing the news.
‘Returning to 10 News First feels like coming home,’ the veteran broadcaster added in a statement.
Her former co-host Max Futcher spoke emotionally and passionately about her on air when he hosted the 6pm bulletin solo after her untimely exit.
‘First tonight, she didn’t want a farewell, and she’s too humble to want us to make a fuss. But we would like to thank Sharyn Ghidella for her 17 wonderful years behind the desk here at 7News Brisbane,’ he said.
‘A true professional, an accomplished journalist, and for all of us here – a friend and mentor. And my good mate.
‘We know Sharyn has also been a big part of your lives, and we know she sees that role as a great privilege.
Now, Ghidella has revealed exactly how the job offer came about, admitting she hadn’t secured the exciting new gig before her axing from Seven
‘Sharyn leaves with our respect, our admiration, and wishes for an amazing future. Love you Shaz.’
Shayrn kicked off her career in Brisbane’s Channel 10 newsroom at the age of 24 as an on-the-road reporter and update presenter.
She moved to Sydney’s Nine Network in 1992 and became a regular newsreader on the Today Show, before moving to the Seven Network in 2007 and began presenting the news in 2013.
After being axed last month, Sharyn confirmed the news of her job loss in a fiery Facebook post, revealing how she learnt of her role being cut while at the hair salon.
‘When you work in TV for as long as I have, not a day goes by when you aren’t expecting the proverbial tap on the shoulder… After 38 years, my shoulder tap has finally come,’ she began.
‘It wasn’t quite how I expected it to end at Channel Seven. I was actually sitting at the hairdressers for work, when I got the call informing me, that after 17 years with the network, my time was up.’
‘While somewhat saddened by this decision, there is also some sense of relief. As has been widely reported, the past couple of weeks in TV has, sadly, been a miserable affair,’ she wrote.
‘A long list of talented, loyal and dedicated employees have been shown the door, in what seems to have been an interminable process of pulling the Band-Aid off slowly when it comes to removing what has been deemed excess stock.
‘These people are some of the best content creators in the business. They are good people and it’s been heartbreaking to watch.’
Ghidella also shared her hopes that viewers will tune in to watch her show on Network 10 in an apparent swipe at Seven, which will have a rival bulletin airing at the same time
‘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,’ she went on of the network’s rebranding.
‘As I’m known to say, the caravan moves on. There is certainly plenty of talent left in the building and I wish them nothing but the best moving forward.’
She ended her post by thanking the many friends she had made throughout her long career with the network.
There has been a cost-cutting bloodbath at Seven as the network’s news division comes under new management.
Three major names to go at the network include veterans Robert Ovadia, Andrew Frampton and seasoned Melbourne crime reporter Cameron Baud.
