Revealed: Rebecca Maddern lands her ‘job of a lifetime’ at rival network after quitting Channel 9

Rebecca Maddern has opened up on her shock exit from Channel 9, revealing which rival network offered her the ‘job of a lifetime’.

After quitting Channel 9 in November Rebecca Maddern has joined Channel 7 as the 7 News Melbourne weekend newsreader alongside Mike Amor.

Maddern described her co-anchor role as the “job of a lifetime” and a homecoming to 7.

“I walked into Channel 7 as a 24-year-old cadet and now I return to read the weekend news so it is a really lovely feeling,” she said.

“It is a job of a lifetime; these opportunities don’t come up very often.

“You only have to look at the main anchors and how long they have been in those roles, so it is not lost on me how lucky I am.

“I think everybody has been reminded over the past two years of how important news is and how it affects everybody.

Rebecca Maddern will co-host the 7 News Melbourne weekend news bulletin alongside Mike Amor. Picture: Josie Hayden

“It is a real honour to be leading the team alongside Mike Amor.”

Maddern shocked TV observers by quitting 9 in November after five and a half years during which she had co-hosted The Footy Show, Ninja Warrior Australia and Weekend Today.

Her departure was put down to the parties not being able to agree on terms on a new deal.

For Maddern, however, there was another opportunity in the wings.

“They were a fantastic network to work for but there is an opportunity at 7 to return home and it is a really lovely comfortable fit and I could not be happier,” Maddern said.

“I left 7 six years ago and while it was a surprise and a shock and really came out of the blue, to join the AFL Footy Show, I left on really good terms and I leave 9 on really good terms.

“I achieved so many things while there. I had never really dreamed of hosting a prime time show, hosting the Australian Open tennis, hosting the cricket world cup and Weekend Today. There were so many career highlights and I am so grateful for those opportunities.”

Maddern and Amor will co-present 7’s weeknight bulletin from Wednesday while regular presenter Peter Mitchell takes a break.

From mid-January, the duo will focus on co-hosting the Friday and

Saturday evening bulletins.

“I’m delighted to be working alongside Mike. He is one of the best

journalists in the country and I know we’re going to make a formidable team,” Maddern said.

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