Veteran broadcaster Melissa Doyle has left Channel Seven after 25 years, the network announced on Friday.
The former Sunrise host said in a statement: ‘For 25 years, I have called Channel Seven home. I’ve had the privilege to share stories that mattered, meet incredible people and be there for significant moments in history.
‘I am incredibly proud of the work I have done and appreciative of the trust and warmth our viewers have shown me.
End of an era: Veteran broadcaster Melissa Doyle has left Channel Seven after 25 years, the network announced on Friday
‘I want to thank the consummate professionals I have worked with along the way, in particular our Chairman Kerry Stokes for his constant support.
‘I leave Seven with a great deal of pride, satisfaction and gratitude.’
In a statement, CEO and Managing Director of Seven West Media, James Warburton thanked Melissa for the work she’d put in at the network.
‘Melissa has deserved every success that’s come her way and has been a huge part of the Network,’ he said.
‘On behalf of everyone at Seven West Media I want to wish Mel the very best and thank her for everything she’s done for the Seven Network.’
Seven Network Director of News and Public Affairs, Craig McPherson also paid tribute to the veteran television journalist.
‘From reporting to presenting to mentoring her colleagues, Mel has been a fundamental part of the Seven Network’s News and Public Affairs team for more than two decades,’ he said in a statement.
‘Classy, professional and a delight to work with, Mel leaves us with a history she should be enormously proud of.
‘On behalf of all her former and current colleagues here at Seven, I’d like to thank her for contributing so much to our successes and wish her every success in her next endeavour.’
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Friday leading TV commentator Rob McKnight, who previously worked with Melissa on Sunrise, weighed in on her departure from the network.
‘Mel Doyle is one of Australia’s best presenters. It’s easy to forget she was part of the team that took Sunrise to number one, but in these tough times we are seeing the loss of big stars across commercial television,’ he began.
‘I worked with Mel when I was line producing Sunrise and she was an absolute joy to work with – she is the same off camera as she is on.
‘It’s going to be tough out there though, the market is struggling, and while I’d like to see her talents used, you have to wonder what opportunities will be out there at this time.’
The 50-year-old TV journalist first joined the network’s Canberra bureau as a politcal reporter back in 1995.
She then moved to Sydney, working as a newsreader on the network’s 11AM program.
Melissa was one of Sunrise’s first hosts, before the breakfast TV show was temporarily axed in 1999, before being revived again the following year.
She rejoined the program in 2002, and also hosted a series of other shows for the network, including Today Tonight.
The veteran TV star announced she was leaving Sunrise in June 2013, and finished up at the program in August that same year.
Her departure at the time was described by the network as a ‘resignation’, but it’s widely believed she was pushed out.
She remained with the network, presenting Seven Afternoon News and Seven News at 7.
In 2016, she was announced as host and senior correspondent for Sunday Night, but the show was cancelled in October last year.
She joined fellow reporter Michael Usher as host of The Latest in March this year.
The network is set to farewell Melissa with ‘a special tribute celebrating her exceptional contribution’ during Friday’s 7NEWS broadcast at 6pm.