After over a decade in her role as the host of ABC’S 7.30. Leigh Sales is hanging up her blazer and she has announced she’s stepping away from the show.
I am not crying, you are crying!
Sales broke the news on 7.30, where she said: “I’ve asked my ABC bosses to allow me to step down from anchoring 7.30. Once the federal election is over.
“There’s nothing wrong, other than I just feel a strong sense of it being time to pass the baton to the next runner in the race and to take a break.
“At the end of an election cycle feels like a good time to move on to something new at the ABC.
“I hope it’s been obvious that I’ve always approached this job with one goal – and that is to ask frank questions of people in power, without fear or favour, that a fair-minded, reasonable person with some common sense watching at home might like to ask if they were sitting in my position.”
You can watch the full statement below.
An announcement from @leighsales. #abc730 pic.twitter.com/hy01mUsYyD
— abc730 (@abc730) February 10, 2022
Naturally, Twitter quickly weighed in on the news.
The ABC legend was showered with praise from her fellow journalists.
Well done @leighsales – what a massive job you have done for all these years. One of the hardest in the business, executed with class. And thanks, personally, for the role you had in my own start in current affairs television.
— Louise Milligan (@Milliganreports) February 10, 2022
This is going to take a little while for @abc730 colleagues to process. @leighsales you are a class act, the most supportive of colleagues and a bloody great journo. As one of a handful of people who has had the remotest glimpse of what the job involves I am in awe #12years https://t.co/AzIxrVEcWQ
— Laura Tingle (@latingle) February 10, 2022
Very proud of @leighsales. If this chick were any tougher, she'd rust. Have watched her in awe as she's steered @abc730 through five PMs, personal challenges, public health crises, you name it. I've never seen her wobble. A truly extraordinary woman. ❤️
— Annabel Crabb (@annabelcrabb) February 10, 2022
https://twitter.com/lenoretaylor/status/1491698452585414656
So proud of @leighsales for a sterling twelve years at the helm of @730. Her commitment to her craft palpable, her work ethic mammoth, her incisive questioning rare, her independence staunch. Can’t wait to see what’s next 🎤✍️💪🙌
— 💥Dr💥 Julia Baird (@bairdjulia) February 10, 2022
In her time at 7.30, Sales saw five Prime Ministers come and go and always managed to handle every interview perfectly. Honestly, Sales is a national treasure, let’s face it.
However, the show must go on! And naturally, now rumours are flying about who will replace Sales. Both Laura Tingle ad David Speers are considered top contenders but only time will tell. Perhaps even Tom Gleeson could give it a crack?
However, here at B&T, we know one thing for sure. There will never be another Sales.
