Georgie Gardner is leaving Channel Nine after 24 years with the network.

Gardner, 55, who helms 9News Sydney’s Friday and Saturday 6pm bulletins, announced her departure on Instagram on Friday, thanking the network for her long and varied career, and expressing her gratitude to colleagues and viewers.

‘Some exciting news… after 34 years of broadcast journalism, I’ve decided to call it a day. Just shy of 24 years at Nine, my resignation has been accepted – which conjures up a fair bit of trepidation and exhilaration in equal measure,’ she wrote.

‘And then there are the countless colleagues who’ve enriched my journey, along with all those I’ve interviewed. They are the reason why the decision to resign has not been made lightly.’

Gardner added that she was optimistic about starting the next phase of her career.

‘So, time now to embark on a new chapter and not yet sure what that looks like, but I’m open to new opportunities and I’m excited,’ she continued.

Georgie Gardner is leaving Channel Nine after 24 years with the network

‘So much still to learn and discover in the world, and at age 55, so much still to contribute.’

Rounding out the post, Gardner wrote: ‘So to them [staff] and our viewers, I am immensely grateful. It’s been awesome, and it’s time.’

Her final bulletin will be on Friday, April 17.

Fiona Dear, Nine’s head of news and current affairs, said the Nine News Sydney presenter was a respected member of the Nine family.

‘Her versatility as a journalist allowed her to take on reporting, hosting and presenting roles across the network,’ Dear said in the email.

‘But it was her nine years on the Today Show as newsreader and host that firmly established Georgie as a household name.

Gardner added in her statement that being a part of the Nine family had been a ‘privilege.’

‘Anchoring news bulletins across the day, as well as reporting and hosting roles on virtually every news program at the network has been incredibly satisfying and an enormous privilege,’ she said.

Gardner, 55, who helms 9News Sydney’s Friday and Saturday 6pm bulletins, announced her departure on Instagram on Friday, thanking the network for her long and varied career, and expressing her gratitude to colleagues and viewers

‘I could not be more grateful for the range of opportunities Nine has afforded me over nearly a quarter of a century,’ she said

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‘I will be forever thankful for having worked with countless colleagues, who are quite simply the best in the industry, and I am humbled by the knowledge that there are viewers who have followed my career.’

Gardner’s post was inundated with well-wishes from her Channel Nine co-stars.

‘G! This is massive. Will miss sharing a dressing room with you. Congratulations on a remarkable career at 9,’ wrote David Campbell.

‘What!!!! Sad to see you’re leaving Nine but you’re so right… still so much to contribute and so many more exciting adventures to be had. Good on you. Will miss our Fridays and Saturdays together,’ added Belinda Russell.

‘Georgie, you will be so missed! Loved working with you. Wishing you all the very best for your next chapter,’ commented Natalia Cooper.

Meanwhile, Tom Steinfort simply referred to Gardner as an icon.

Gardner joined Channel Nine in 2002.

In 2006, she replaced Leila McKinnon on National Nine News Morning Edition and would go on to work on Today for eight years.

In 2018, Gardner replaced Lisa Wilkinson as co-host of Today alongside Karl Stefanovic

Gardner’s announcement comes after Nine’s director of video content, Alexander Needs confirmed his departure from the network after 24 years

She left her role at Today in 2014 to spend more time with her family.

In 2018, she replaced Lisa Wilkinson as co-host of Today alongside Karl Stefanovic.

She later co-hosted the show with Deborah Knight in 2019.

Gardner’s announcement comes after another Nine veteran confirmed their departure this week.

Alexander Needs, Nine’s director of video content, announced on LinkedIn on Thursday that he was leaving after 24 years.

‘It’s been an incredible journey – one that spans the halcyon magazine days at ACP, through to the live broadcast environments of A Current Affair and Today, and most recently, leading our digital video and social transformation,’ he wrote.

‘I’m immensely proud of what we’ve achieved in modernising our news and content delivery.’

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-15641799/Georgie-Gardner-announces-shock-departure-Nine.html