Axed Channel Seven newsreader reveals the single reason why she couldn't say goodbye to viewers on air
Viewers were shocked when the face of Seven News in Queensland Sharyn Ghidella was abruptly sacked earlier this month.
And her fans were stunned when the beloved 58-year-old TV veteran disappeared from screens without offering an on-air 'goodbye'.
Now Sharyn has revealed that she knocked back the chance to say farewell to her large and loyal audience.
In a touching admission the journalist said that after 17 years at the news desk she merely wanted to stay 'professional' during her final bulletin.
'I think it was the emotional side of it,' she confessed on Friday in The Courier Mail.
'I was not certain I could keep my emotions in check. I didn't want to be on air, trying to communicate the news, which is a very serious business, if I was not completely composed.
'If I'd made mistakes, if my voice had a wobble in it, that's not professional and our viewers deserve better than that.'
Elsewhere in the chat, Sharyn said she considered viewers 'friends'.
Viewers were shocked when the face of Seven News in Queensland Sharyn Ghidella was abruptly sacked earlier this month. (Pictured)
'Family, actually,' she added and continued: 'When you are in their lounge rooms at 6pm, five days a week, they have to trust you.
'They have made a connection with me, that connection has now been broken and I feel a little lost.'
It comes after Ghidella confirmed the news of her sacking in a fiery Facebook post earlier this month.
Her former co-host Max Futcher spoke emotionally and passionately about her on air when he hosted the 6pm bulletin solo after her untimely exit.
'First tonight, she didn't want a farewell, and she's too humble to want us to make a fuss. But we would like to thank Sharyn Ghidella for her 17 wonderful years behind the desk here at 7News Brisbane,' he said.
'A true professional, an accomplished journalist, and for all of us here – a friend and mentor. And my good mate.
'We know Sharyn has also been a big part of your lives, and we know she sees that role as a great privilege.
'Sharyn leaves with our respect, our admiration, and wishes for an amazing future. Love you Shaz.'
Ghidella said in her post that her 'tap on the shoulder' finally came while she was at the salon, admitting it was a 'relief' of sorts after several anxious weeks of media job cuts.
'When you work in TV for as long as I have, not a day goes by when you aren't expecting the proverbial tap on the shoulder... After 38 years, my shoulder tap has finally come,' Ghidella began.
Now Sharyn has revealed that she knocked back the chance to say farewell on air to her large and loyal audience. In a new interview with the Courier Mail she said that after 17 years at the news desk, she wanted to stay 'professional' during her final bulletin
'It wasn't quite how I expected it to end at Channel Seven.
'I was actually sitting at the hairdressers for work, when I got the call informing me, that after 17 years with the network, my time was up.'
She said her recent time at the network had been 'miserable' and she was glad to be heading out the door.
'While somewhat saddened by this decision, there is also some sense of relief. As has been widely reported, the past couple of weeks in TV has, sadly, been a miserable affair,' she wrote.
Sharyn said she was not sure she could keep her emotions in check and wanted to stay professional. She had been on the News Desk since 2007
'A long list of talented, loyal and dedicated employees have been shown the door, in what seems to have been an interminable process of pulling the Band-Aid off slowly when it comes to removing what has been deemed excess stock.
'These people are some of the best content creators in the business. They are good people and it's been heartbreaking to watch.'
Sharyn added she was not a fan of the network's rebranding of its news programming, with comedian Mark Humphries doing regular skits and an astrology 'report'.
'I'm also not one to have my evening news served up with humour and horoscopes either, so, to be honest, it is time to go,' Ghidella sniped.
She ended her take-no-prisoners post by thanking the many friends she had made throughout her long career with the network.
