Annette Sharp: Michael Usher and Angela Cox rumoured to take Mark Ferguson’s weekday bulletin

The move now appears to be on in earnest at Channel 7 to replace Mark Ferguson with a double-header on the weekday prime time news, writes Annette Sharp.

The push now appears to be on in earnest at Channel 7 to replace Mark Ferguson as anchor of Sydney’s weekday prime time news bulletin.

According to TV sources, bosses have warmed to the idea of replacing “Fergo” with a double-header.

The seasoned weekend news team of Angela Cox and Michael Usher have been in training to replace the chiselled Ferguson since January 2021 when they were initially paired up on weekends.

The change was mooted at the tail end of last year, but then news director Craig McPherson, who recently quit, had a change of heart, fearing the change might create an advantage for Nine.

With Seven losing the news slot in Sydney and also taking a recent hit in Melbourne, sources say it’s likely Ferguson won’t last the year.

Michael Usher.

Angela Cox.

Meanwhile, the network is yet to make a decision regarding Mark Llewellyn’s replacement at Spotlight, where producer Phil Goyen still holds the fort.

Insiders last week claimed that, despite Seven’s repeated denials, there remains a question hanging over the series.

Channel 7’s 2020 news lineup with longtime anchor Mark Ferguson (second from left) as the centrepiece.

Veteran 60 Minutes producer Gareth Harvey is one whose name has been floated as a possible solution.

Seven, meanwhile, maintains all the talk of turbulence is overstated, with the network winning the week of May 5 with a national audience share of 44.9 per cent and the highest rating entertainment show on the box with Farmer Wants A Wife.

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