Sharyn Ghidella announces new role after shock Channel Seven axing

Sharyn Ghidella has confirmed her new job after being unexpectedly made redundant from Channel Seven.

The 57-year-old Queensland newsreader was sacked last month after 17 years at 7News, amid a series of redundancies across the media.

She has now confirmed that she will present Network 10’s 5pm Queensland news bulletin.

Her move to the network also sees the 10 News First show return to Brisbane studios after being broadcast from Sydney for many years.

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.

“Returning to 10 News First feels like coming home,” the veteran presenter said in a statement.

‘Network 10 gave me my first big break in the early 90s. Now that I’m back here and providing a local news service for the people of Queensland, it’s more than exciting.’

Sandra Sully, the current presenter of 10 News First, will hand over the baton to Sharyn next month. She says she is ‘excited’ that Sharyn is taking on the role.

“I have known Sharyn for many years and I am delighted to be handing over the Brisbane bulletin to another Queenslander,” she said.

“It’s great that our local news is in such good hands and I’m delighted to welcome Sharyn to 10. I can’t wait to see the amazing things she and our local Queensland team will do together.”

Erin Edwards, Editor-in-Chief of 10 News First Queensland, added: ‘Sharyn is a master journalist. She delves deep into every story to give Queenslanders the facts without the fuss.

“Sharyn loves Queensland. She understands Queensland. We can’t wait to start a new chapter at 10 News First Queensland.”

Sharyn grew up in the North Queensland town of Babinda and completed a Bachelor of Business Communications in Brisbane before pursuing a career in journalism.

At the age of 24, she was recruited by Channel 10’s newsroom in Brisbane as a travel reporter and presenter.

Sharyn moved to Nine Network in Sydney in 1992 and became a regular newsreader on the Today Show, before moving to Seven Network in 2007.

She has presented the network’s Brisbane programming bulletin since 2013, but was relieved of her duties last month after 17 years.

Sharyn confirmed the news about her job loss in a fiery post on Facebook, in which she reveals how she found out her job had been cut while she was at the hairdresser.

She has confirmed she will join Network 10 to present the 5pm Queensland news bulletin in an exciting new adventure

After several anxious weeks of layoffs, she criticized the failing network for preferring gimmicks like astrology readings over retaining experienced talent.

“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.’

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.

‘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.”

She said she wasn’t a fan of the new name the network has given to its news programs. Comedian Mark Humphries will do a comedy sketch tonight at 6:57 p.m. and “Astro Tash” will do an astrology report next week.

The 57-year-old Queensland newsreader was sacked last month after 17 years at 7News in a shock decision to cut costs.

“I’m also not one to have the evening news presented with humor and horoscopes, so honestly it’s time to go,” she continued.

“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.