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Friday Flashback: Sarah Ferguson joins 7:30

Back in 2014 Sarah Ferguson hosted 7:30 for around 6 months.

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Back in 2014 Sarah Ferguson hosted 7:30 for around 6 months when Leigh Sales took maternity leave.

During her stint Clive Palmer walked out of an interview, she taught Joe Hockey the meaning of the word “promise”, took Bill Shorten to task about union corruption and told Christopher Pyne there were rules about repeating the same lines in her interviews.

Bruce Belsham, then ABC’s Head of Current Affairs said, “Live presenting is a highwire art, requiring skill and bravery. Sarah’s style, always civil but tenacious and thoroughly across the brief has resulted in a string of agenda-setting interviews.”

Today she was announced as the permanent successor to Sales in July.

Fire up the blowtorch.

4 Responses

  1. For some reason I did not consider Sarah when names were first dropped weeks ago when Leigh made her announcement. I am not a fan but will watch anyway as 7.30 is still the flagship current affairs program on the ABC and the best across the networks in my opinion. I thought it might have gone to Stan Grant who has filled in, or David Speers, but I guess the politics of experience at the ABC would not have considered Speers having only been there for a couple of years despite his vast experience at Sky. I am unsure if Sarah has the light and shade to bring to the show that Leigh did. Even among the grim last few years, there have been stories and profiles that Leigh showed a lighter touch and a versatility as a presenter and journalist. I will miss her enormously.

    1. When the replacement names were bandied around I made mention on this site than Sarah was not mentioned, not just this site but The Age and others. If you can get hold of any political interviews she did when she filled in during 2014 you will see her skills first hand. She is so skilled at political interviews and never lets the pollies off. I didn’t mind Leigh but found that 7.30 was not essential watch TV when she hosted. would maybe flick over a bit but normally flick off. I am so happy that Sarah got the gig.

      1. Different strokes for different folks. I found Sarah pretty austere and lacking in variance and warmth. But I concede she is sharp and skilled for sure, but not enamored with her individual style.

  2. I noted the glee on the faces of the hosts of the News Breakfast show when they announced Sarah Fergson’s appointment today. I would be thinking that some senior LNP ministers will not be wanting to draw the short straw for spokesperson duties on the 7.30 Report, though if I were PM I would want to appear on her show every week.

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