Viewers were shocked when Sharyn Ghidella, the face of Seven News in Queensland, was suddenly fired earlier this month.
And her fans were stunned when the beloved 58-year-old TV veteran disappeared from the screen without an on-screen goodbye.
Now Sharyn has revealed that she passed up the chance to say goodbye to her large and loyal audience.
In a moving confession, the journalist said that after 17 years in the newsroom, she only wanted to remain “professional” during her last bulletin.
“I think it was the emotional side of it,” she admitted on Friday The courier post.
“I wasn’t sure if I could control my emotions. I didn’t want to be on the radio and try to communicate the news, which is a very serious thing, if I wasn’t completely calm.
“If I made mistakes, if my voice is shaking, that’s unprofessional and our viewers deserve better.”
Sharyn said elsewhere in the chat that she considers the viewers as ‘friends’.
Viewers were shocked when Seven News Queensland’s face Sharyn Ghidella was suddenly fired earlier this month. (Image)
“They’re family, really,” she added, continuing, “When you’re in their living room at 6 p.m. five days a week, they have to trust you.
“They made a connection with me, that connection is now broken and I feel a little lost.”
This comes after Ghidella confirmed the news of her resignation in a heated Facebook post earlier this month.
Her former co-host Max Futcher spoke emotionally and passionately about her when he presented the 6pm bulletin solo following her untimely departure.
“Firstly, she didn’t want to say goodbye tonight and she’s too modest to want us to make a big deal about it. But we want 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 to all of us here – a friend and mentor. And my good buddy.
‘We know that Sharyn has also played a major role in your lives and that she considers that role a great privilege.
“Sharyn leaves with our respect, admiration and wishes for a wonderful future. Love you Shaz.”
Ghidella wrote in her post that she finally got her “tap on the shoulder” while she was at the salon, admitting it was a relief after the stressful weeks of media layoffs.
“When you work in television as long as I have, not a day goes by without expecting the proverbial tap on the shoulder… After 38 years, it’s finally here,” Ghidella began.
Now Sharyn has revealed that she turned down the chance to say goodbye to her large and loyal radio audience. In a new interview with the Courier Mail, she said that after 17 years in the newsroom, she wanted to remain ‘professional’ during her final bulletin
‘It wasn’t quite how I expected it to turn out at Channel Seven.
‘I was at work at the hairdresser’s when I got the call that my time at the network was up. After 17 years, it was over.’
She said her recent time at the network had been “miserable” and that she was glad to be leaving.
“While I am somewhat saddened by this decision, there is also a sense of relief. As has been widely reported, the last few weeks on TV have unfortunately been a miserable affair,” she wrote.
Sharyn said she wasn’t sure she could control her emotions and wanted to remain professional. She had been on the News Desk since 2007
‘A long list of talented, loyal and dedicated employees have been shown the door, in what seems to have been a never-ending process of slowly removing the band-aid on the wound, when it comes to removing what was perceived as excess inventory.
“These people are some of the best content creators in the business. They’re good people and it’s heartbreaking to watch.”
Sharyn added that she’s not a fan of the network’s new name for its news programs, which feature comedian Mark Humphries doing regular sketches and an “astrology report.”
“I’m not one to be fed the evening news with humor and horoscopes, so frankly it’s time to go,” Ghidella sneered.
She concluded her merciless message by thanking the many friends she had made during her long career at the network.