Axed Seven weatherman unleashes in final live cross

The network’s veteran weatherman has lashed out during his final segment after he was brutally axed as part of a cost-cutting move.

Channel 7 star Paul Burt has lashed out at the network after he was axed as part of a cost-cutting move.

The 51-year-old veteran weatherman unleashed during his final segment on Saturday, which turned into very awkward viewing.

“Hello everybody yes it is my last weather for the network tonight,” Burt said at the end of the 6pm news bulletin.

“Let’s get straight into it everyone because it’s the most important thing is your Sunday and not me.”

The Queensland presenter then detailed the weather outlook before presenter Samantha Heathwood farewelled him.

“Bertie we can’t let you go tonight without thanking you for your passionate weather reporting over the past decade and a bit,” she said. “I’ve loved your energy and our laughs and on behalf of our entire news team and I’m sure all of the viewers I’d like to wish you all the best for your next chapter.”

Burt, who has spent nearly three decades in the industry, then thanked viewers for placing their “trust, loyalty and support” in him and also thanked his family before delivering a truth bomb.

“If I’d had the opportunity I wouldn’t have wanted to go this way,” Burt said. “It’s what happens when you get sacked”.

The network then cut to footage of Burt, who has been at Seven since 2013, presenting various segments over the years.

Channel 7 weatherman Paul Burt gives his final report for the network telling viewers "that's what happens when you’re sacked”. Picture: Channel 7

They included him delivering the weather from a helicopter during floods, hamming it up on fishing boats and doing belly flops into the pool of a cruise ship. There was also a memorable segment showing “Burtie” abandoning a live cross at the beach to save a drowning child.

Burt, who had started at Seven back in 1996 before moving to other networks and coming back to Seven again, said in an interview with The Australian that he had been granted only “55 seconds to say my goodbyes”.

“I really don’t understand it, why people are being treated this way,” Burt said.

“It was a shock, I was told to come in and have a meeting which I did and I was told my contract was not being renewed. It was rather embarrassing for my wife and children. They found out before I could even tell them. Obviously things get leaked.

“Some of the decisions made lately are quite harsh. I’ve lost a lot of friends who have been made redundant or got the sack.”

Burt didn’t hold back. Picture: Channel 7

Burt has had a long career with the network. Picture: Channel 7

Burt has had a long media career in which he has worked for Ten, Nine and Seven.

Fellow Seven presenter Sharyn Ghidella was also cut from the network after having spent almost four decades in the industry.

Ghidella detailed the moment she was fired in a Facebook post, saying it was a kind of “relief” following weeks of cuts in the media industry.

“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.

“It wasn’t quite how I expected it to end at Channel 7. 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 refused to go quietly, detailing her “heartbreak” in her post.

Seven news reporter Sharyn Ghidella post on leaving the network. Picture: Facebook

“I was 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.

”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.”

New management at Seven has implemented a range of cost-cutting moves. Veterans including Robert Ovadia, Andrew Frampton and seasoned Melbourne crime reporter Cameron Baud have all gone.

Ovadia said he will take Seven to the Fair Work Commission for unfair dismissal.

Originally published as Axed Seven weatherman unleashes in final live cross