Surprise announcement: Lee Lin Chin quits SBS
After more than 40 years, trusted journalist and news presenter Lee Lin Chin is leaving SBS. She spoke exclusively to Sandra Sully at Ten Daily to reveal the reasons behind her decision.
"There's not one big reason, there's many small to medium-sized reasons, which for the time being I wish to keep to myself but may talk about one day,” Lee Lin admitted to Sandra.
“One reason I shall reveal, however, is that working two days a week didn't give me enough time to devote to the pub and re-reading the complete works of Shakespeare. So now that I work zero days that issue has been addressed," Lee Lin added cheekily.
While many of her colleagues possibly did not predict Lee Lin’s surprise announcement today, her legion of loyal fans around Australia are no doubt sad to learn that she has decided it’s time for the next chapter.
"It has been something I've considered for a number of years now. I thought SBS would just fire me one day, so I'd never have to make the decision,” Lee Lin candidly shared.
“They obviously didn't and, in fact, offered me a two-year contract extension at the start of the year. So, I had to start considering it a lot more seriously."
Acknowledging her legion of followers, Lee Lin admitted, "The reason why it took so long was because of the fans. Every day at least five people will approach me and say that they love me on the news and that they watch every week. It does feel slightly as if I am letting them down by leaving. Please don't hate me.”
So, what does the much-loved and esteemed news presenter have planned next?
"Hopefully many things. I've recently started a production company, All The Chin's Men, with Chris Leben and Daniel Hartley-Allen, whom I worked extensively with at The Feed,” Lee Lin revealed.
“We already have two shows in development, a comedy travel show with ITV Australia and a comedy espionage show with emotive content. Naturally they're both starring me."
She added, “I'm also looking into the podcast world, I want to host a podcast all about The Beatles, I'd love it if you'd join me for an episode Miss Sully."
Before cheekily declaring, "However, I'd like to point out that once a newsreader, always a newsreader. I would be very happy to read the news on a casual basis in the future if someone were willing to have me. Let me know if you need a break, I'm sure I could give Ten a ratings boost."
Lee Lin’s last national broadcast for World News on SBS will be this Sunday, July 29.
Will you be sad to see Lee Lin Chin no longer host World News on SBS? Tell us in the comments below.