Sky News anchor Jaynie Seal on heartbreak and happiness

A glamorous life in the public eye hasn’t spared Sky News anchor Jaynie Seal from personal tragedy.

Sky News presenter Jaynie Seal. Picture: John Appleyard

When Sky News anchor Jaynie Seal starts talking about her favourite things, she immediately begins to cry. She and her boys have to put down their beloved cat “little Jazzy” after the interview.

“Oh, I’m getting emotional now – it came as a bit of a shock,” she says.

Seal has mourned deeply before. More tears are shed talking about her sister, who at 19 was a passenger in a car crash that left her brain damaged and quadriplegic for nine painful years until she died of complications.

“She is always in my heart,” Seal says. “She is one of the strongest people I have ever met. Everything she went through, how selfless she was and her pain threshold was beyond comprehension. She gave so many people so much love. She was one of a kind.”

The single mum’s home is a happy sanctuary on “an amazing street like no other,” she says. “We’ve got a WhatsApp group; we’re all looking out for each other.”

Rather than buying her dream furniture, Seal says, “I just thought I’ll let the kids be kids, they can run amok. For now, (it’s) a free for all. They run in with their fishing rods, their scooters, their wet clothes – I can’t even. Getting up at 3 o’clock in the morning and it’s pristine? It’s like, ‘You know what, anything goes, let’s just have fun’.”

Jaynie Seal and her with one of her gluten free cookbooks. Picture: John Appleyard

Who Jaynie Seal
Where Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, on and off for about 20 years, with my sons Hayden, 15, and Remy, 11. I bought it about 20 years ago then moved here, there and everywhere and had it rented for about seven years.
Favourite space I love upstairs in my room, which has big windows, lots of air and a lot of native Australian trees. It’s tranquil and quiet with beautiful bird sounds.
Home means comfort, relaxation, sun.

Jaynie Seal relaxes at home. Picture: John Appleyard

SKY NEWS’ JAYNIE SEAL’S HOME FAVOURITES

A classic, never-fail dress by Willow was one of Seal’s earliest Sky News outfits. Picture: John Appleyard

Willow dress
This was one of my first outfits working at Sky. Willow is a beautiful, classic brand that never dates, it’s amazing quality and looks stunning on air. It’s a grey dress with a belt. It’s just one of those dresses that’s very easy to pop on but does the trick.

Jazzy the cat’s favourite toy. Picture: John Appleyard

Cat toy
My cat Jazzy has been part of our lives for nine years and we’re going to have to say goodbye to her today (due to a tumour). This toy is going to be really sentimental … because she loved playing with it and we’ll always have those fondest memories.

Sky News 25th Anniversary coffee mug. Picture: John Appleyard

Sky News mug
It’s insulated, which I love having every morning. I don’t drink coffee, which everyone is shocked about considering I have to get up so early. However, I have Rooibos herbal teas. The mug on set keeps it nice and warm and it’s nice memorabilia as well.

Australia's Natural Disasters, by Richard Whitaker. Picture: John Appleyard

Natural disasters book
Richard Whitaker wrote this beautiful hardcover book on natural disasters. It was a great reference and (he is) a beautiful man. Learning from one of the best in the business, you can’t put a price on it. All of the meteorologists I had the honour to work with when I was doing weather were extraordinary.

A favourite photo, taken during a visit to Universal Studios in LA, with sons Hayden and Remy. Picture: John Appleyard

Family photo
We’re at Universal Studios in LA. My boys’ first overseas trip and … we have the most amazing memories before Covid. I was so glad that I made that decision for the boys to go on that holiday because the memories are so worth it. We had an absolute ball. Just a lovely, lovely time.

Jaynie’s tap shoes. Picture: John Appleyard

Tap shoes
I’ve danced since I was two. My mum was teaching tap dancing when she was pregnant so I’ve literally been dancing since before I was born. I studied performing arts after I left high school. It was a career for me and I still try and attempt to go to tap classes. Dean Perry was one of my teachers, who started up Tap Dogs.

Special mementos. Picture: John Appleyard

Irish wedding ring with jewellery box

The ring was from my sister and the jewellery box was my late grandmother’s. My sister gave (the ring) to me when she was a teenager. She liked the heart with two hands on either side. It was more about her hand, my hand, with the heart.

This inspirational Dr Seuss quote was a birthday gift from one of Seal’s cherished friends. Picture: John Appleyard

Framed Dr Seuss quote

Given to me on my birthday six years ago by a dear friend I’ve known since I was 19. A fellow journalist, very successful in her own right, who has always been a mentor to me and believed in me more than I’ve believed in myself. When I see this, I think of her, how she’s always had my back and how lucky I am to have such a great friend.