Chris Uhlmann & Leigh Sales to host new-look “7:30”

The ABC has announced Chris Uhlmann and Leigh Sales to host the newly-titled 7:30.

Uhlmann is currently Political Editor for ABC News while Sales has been a co-presenter for Lateline.

From March next year, it will be simply called 7.30. Sales will anchor the program from Sydney and Uhlmann will be Political Editor, presenting the show from Canberra when the news demands it. The new focus of 7.30 will be on the range and depth of the program’s reporting, and its ability to break stories and set the news agenda.

The ABC’s Director of News, Kate Torney, says the program’s great strength as the home of quality daily current affairs will be well served by having two of the ABC’s most respected journalists leading the team.

“Leigh Sales has a string of major interviews to her credit, including Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice and Tony Blair. Chris Uhlmann has established himself as one of the most respected political interviewers and journalists in the country. We are proud to have them leading this flagship show,” Ms Torney says.

Leigh Sales said, “I’m really excited by this opportunity and I can’t wait for us to bring our audience the best interviews and the most important stories.

“I’m particularly delighted at the chance to team up with Chris Uhlmann, who’s somebody I not only admire and respect very much as a journalist, but whom I like a great deal.

“Lateline has been a fabulous programme to work on and I’ve been very proud of what we’ve achieved. I’m now looking forward to an exciting 2011 on 7.30.”

Chris Uhlmann said, “It’s a tremendous honour to be asked to work on 7.30 and I’m thrilled to be teamed with Leigh Sales, who brings enormous interviewing, journalistic and presentational skills to the project.

“The producers, editors and reporters at the 7.30 Report set the gold standard in television current affairs and I’m optimistic that the changes planned for 2011 will maintain their proud tradition and continue the epic work of Kerry O’Brien.

“The ABC has given me great opportunities and I look forward to the New Year with great enthusiasm.”

The 7.30 Report will continue in its regular format over the summer season.

Kerry O’Brien ends his 15 year association with the at the end of next week.