Mike Whitney quits Channel Seven travel show Sydney Weekender after 27 years: ‘I am going to miss it’
Mike Whitney has stepped down from hosting Sydney Weekender after a 27-year career on the Channel Seven travel show.
He hosted his final episode last Sunday and was joined by his replacement, sprinter-turned-broadcaster Matt Shirvington.
It was a bittersweet moment for the 62-year-old TV presenter, who first appeared on Sydney Weekender back in 1994.
End of an era: Mike Whitney has departed Sydney Weekender after 27 years on the travel show
‘Twenty-seven years! To do anything for that long is a very long time,’ Whitney said of his resignation.
‘I had the best hosting job in Australia. I got to travel everywhere in NSW, meet the most amazing people, and do the most amazing things.’
He continued: ‘People pay to do the stuff that I got paid to do. I’m very grateful that I got the opportunity to work on this show.’
‘Twenty-seven years! To do anything for that long is a very long time’: It was a bittersweet moment for the TV personality who first appeared on Sydney Weekender back in 1994
Whitney compared his departure from the travel series to his retirement from professional cricket.
‘People ask me if I’m going to miss it. Sure, I am going to miss it. It feels a bit surreal. But I had an incredible cricket career as well and I had to retire from that. And who gets to retire twice from two wonderful careers?’ he said.
Mike joined Sydney Weekender the same year he retired from cricket.
An illustrious career: Whitney compared his departure from the travel series to his retirement from professional cricket, saying, ‘I had an incredible cricket career as well and I had to retire from that. And who gets to retire twice from two wonderful careers?’
He has also hosted other TV shows including ABC’s Great Ideas, Who Dares Wins and Last Chance Learners.
Seven News sports presenter and former Olympian Matt Shirvington has stepped in as the new host of Sydney Weekender.
Shirvington said of replacing Whitey: ‘Taking over from a TV legend like Mike Whitney, who’s graced our Sunday afternoons showing us around our beautiful state for more than two decades, is a huge responsibility.’
‘Mike leaves some very big shoes to fill. I feel honoured and excited to be given the chance,’ he added.
A new face for Weekender: Seven News sports presenter Matt Shirvington (left) has stepped in as the new host of Sydney Weekender, replacing Whitney (right)