Veteran TV presenter Sharyn Ghidella has detailed how Network 10 poached her after she was shockingly sacked by rival Channel Seven.
Ghidella, 57, best known as the face of Seven News in Queensland, shocked fans last month when she confirmed she had been sacked after 17 years in a series of media redundancies.
However, her sudden departure was followed by the surprise news that she would move to rival Network 10 to present the 5pm Queensland news bulletin with fellow Seven star Liz Cantor.
Now Ghidella has revealed how exactly she came to be offered the job, admitting that she hadn’t secured the new role before leaving Seven.
She revealed that she had received a phone call from Erin Edwards, editor-in-chief of 10 News First Queensland, thought it was just to support her, rather than offer her a job.
“I just thought it was a sweet, friendly, ‘I’m sorry for what happened to you,’ but she was forward-thinking and forward-thinking,” she said TV Tonight.
Edwards arranged for Ghidella, who began her career at Network 10 more than two decades ago, to have a chat with the head of news, Martin White.
“I think Martin called me the week after and asked, ‘Can we meet?’ The next thing I knew, I signed a contract,” she explained.
Veteran TV presenter Sharyn Ghidella has revealed details of how Network 10 poached her after she was shockingly sacked by rival Channel Seven
Her sudden departure was quickly followed by the surprise news that she was moving to Seven’s rival Network 10 to present the 5pm Queensland news bulletin, alongside Liz Cantor.
Ghidella expressed her hope that viewers will tune in to her show on Network 10, taking a dig at Seven, which has a competing programme at the same time.
She also appeared to criticise Seven’s new name for its news programme, which included comedian Mark Humphries doing a comedy sketch at 6.57pm and ‘Astro Tash’ giving an astrological report.
“I can’t tell you how many people have come up to me when I’ve been out and said, ‘Great that 10 is bringing local news back to Queensland, we’re going to keep watching!’” she said.
‘So I keep my fingers crossed that those viewers will be there. There really seems to be a need for straight-forward news, a really strong bulletin, solid journalism, lots of local and national and international news.
“That’s what 10 does so beautifully,” she added.
Her move to the network sees the 10 News First show return to Brisbane studios after years of broadcasting from Sydney.
Sharyn described her new job as a “full circle moment” as she returns to Network 10, where she began her career as a news presenter 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 presenter added in a statement.
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.
Now Ghidella has revealed exactly how the offer came about, admitting she hadn’t secured the exciting new role before quitting Seven.
“Sharyn leaves with our respect, admiration and wishes for a wonderful future. Love you Shaz.”
Shayrn began her career at the age of 24 in the Channel 10 newsroom in Brisbane as a travel reporter and presenter.
In 1992 she moved to Nine Network in Sydney and became a regular newsreader on the Today Show. In 2007 she moved to Seven Network and in 2013 she started presenting the news herself.
After being laid off last month, Sharyn confirmed the news of her job loss in a fiery Facebook post, telling how she found out her job had been cut while she was working at a hairdresser.
“When you’ve been 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,” she began.
‘It wasn’t quite how I expected it to end at Channel Seven. I was actually at the hairdresser’s for work when I got the call that after 17 years at the network my time was up.’
“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.
‘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.”
Ghidella also shared her hope that viewers will tune in to watch her show on Network 10, in an apparent attack on Seven, which will air a rival bulletin at the same time
“I’m not one to have the evening news presented with humor and horoscopes, so honestly, it’s time to leave,” she continued about the network’s new name.
“As I sometimes say, the caravan moves on. There is certainly still plenty of talent in the building and I wish them nothing but the best moving forward.”
She concluded her message by thanking the many friends she had made during her long career at the network.
Seven has been hit by a cost-cutting bloodbath as the network’s news division comes under new management.
Three big names joining the network are veterans Robert Ovadia, Andrew Frampton and experienced Melbourne crime reporter Cameron Baud.