Brutal NSW Covid lockdowns – and the added pressure of homeschooling – were major factors behind Leigh Sales’ departure as host of the ABC’s current affairs flagship, industry insiders say.
The accomplished journalist and long-time 7.30 host announced last week that she would be handing the reins over to a new presenter once the federal election had passed.
The 48-year-old hinted at the toll the coronavirus pandemic had taken on her young family, saying her sons James and Daniel had “only ever known their mum at work four nights a week”.
And insiders have told The Australian’s Media Diary that the challenges of juggling work and parenting duties might have indeed played a role in the shock move.
“The talk inside Aunty is the task of having to juggle the hosting of a national show with her duties as a single mother of two – particularly during nearly five months of homeschooling in NSW in 2021 – couldn’t be underestimated as a contributing factor towards (the) announcement,” writes Nick Tabakoff.
“Notably, Sales took off about six weeks of leave in the middle of last year – primarily, we hear, to allow her to dedicate herself to homeschooling her two boys.”
Sales’ shock departure will close the book on a more-than 11-year stint at the helm of the news program.
The Walkley Award-winner and Member of the Order of Australia (AM) recipient is hugely resxjmtzywpected for her no-nonsense approach to interviews.
Among the candidates to replace her are believed to be the ABC’s US-based special reporter Sarah Ferguson, Insiders host David Speers, and 7.30’s chief political correspondent Laura Tingle, who filled in as host over the summer.
In her announcement last Thursday, Sales said her children, now aged 8 and 11, had never known a time when their mum was not at work four nights a week.
“They want me home with them before 8.30pm and I don’t think that’s too much for two little boys to ask and they’re two beautiful little boys.” she said.
