"I'm so lucky": Leigh Sales shares exciting career update
<p dir="ltr">Leigh Sales has revealed she will be returning to Australian TV screens next year as the anchor of <em>Australian Story</em>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The ABC journalist will be just the second person to host the show in its history, after its long-term host Caroline Jones died earlier this year.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“<em>Australian Story</em> is one of the most beloved programs in the country and I am so excited and humbled to be invited to front it. I can’t wait to be involved in the production process of such a talented team.” Sales said.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Her new role comes after Sales wrapped up 12 years as the host of <em>7.30 </em>following the federal election, and was announced as part of ABC’s virtual showcase of programming plans for next year.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The national broadcaster will also reboot <em>Mother and Son</em>, with Matt Okine and Denise Scott taking over the comedy’s starring roles.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Other shows slated for next year include scripted comedy <em>Gold Diggers</em>, which follows two sisters searching for rich, dumb husbands in the 1850s goldfields, as well as <em>Limbo </em>and a new season of <em>Utopia</em>.</p>
<p><span id="docs-internal-guid-2d8a9e01-7fff-a56e-cd90-869a836f193e">In the wake of the announcement, Sales took to social media to share the news and an update on how she’s been spending her time since leaving <em>7.30</em>.</span></p>
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<p dir="ltr">“Hello everybody, long time no see,” she began in a clip of herself at home, dressed in a white t-shirt and pants.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“I have been so massively enjoying my long service leave and my break from the news - I’ve gone completely cold turkey, I’ve switched off the news - and I pretty much barely change out of, let’s face it, pyjamas. </p>
<p dir="ltr">“I’ve really let myself go, and I know that ‘letting yourself go’ is said as an insult … but is there really anything that sounds more luxurious to you than letting yourself go?</p>
<p dir="ltr">“Anyway, I’ve got some news to share. </p>
<p dir="ltr">“I am going to be, next year, anchoring the <em>Australian Story </em>program for the ABC.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“I’m so thrilled and excited about that, because, as you would all know, because it’s one of the most popular shows on the network, it is such a brilliant program with such a history of making the most brilliant shows and telling the most moving stories.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“I’m just so lucky to get to go and work with and learn from the people who pull that show together and hopefully contribute some of my own ideas. </p>
<p dir="ltr">“It’s also very humbling to be invited to front that show because it’s only had one anchor in its 25-year history, and that of course is the late, great Caroline Jones, so it’s really quite overwhelming actually, to be following on from such a legend.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“I just feel like I’m so lucky.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">Sales received a flood of congratulatory messages from fans and fellow TV stars, including Dr Chris Brown and Lisa Wilkinson.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“This is the best news. But I’m even more excited about the cello introduction you’re going to give every feature story in 2023. That’s entertainment,” Brown commented.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“Such fabulous news Leigh. Congrats, adn so deserved. Looks like we have something else to celebrate on our margarita date!! 👏👏👏 xxxx,” Wilkinson wrote.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“Woooooot! Great news. Congratulations on letting yourself go so luxuriously and let’s hope they’ve got a great team on board to put you back together 😆 can’t wait to watch 👏,” Leila McKinnon said.</p>
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<p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Twitter</em></p>
