Nine has formally farewelled Amber Sherlock on air, with Georgie Gardner breaking script during Wednesday night’s bulletin to acknowledge her colleague’s departure.
The move came just days after Sherlock vanished from the weather desk amid a sweeping restructure and escalating newsroom uncertainty.
In the closing moments of the bulletin, Gardner addressed viewers directly: “Before we go tonight, we’d like to extend a farewell to our colleague, Amber Sherlock.”
She described Sherlock as “a valued member of the news team” who had delivered Nine’s daily weather updates for years. “I’d like to thank Amber for her contribution,” Gardner added.
“We wish her and her family all the very best.”
It was the network’s first public confirmation that Sherlock – a fixture at Nine since 2007 – had been let go earlier in the week.
Her role was cut as part of a broader operational overhaul across Nine’s Broadcast and Streaming divisions, with up to 50 roles expected to go.
Redundancies widen
Sherlock’s exit is one of several high-profile departures landing in quick succession.
Multiple sources confirmed to Mediaweek that Jonathan Uptin, 9News Queensland’s long-time sports reporter, will also depart after his contract was not renewed. In Adelaide, Kate Collins was axed just days after fronting the station’s Christmas Pageant coverage.
The cuts are the latest chapter in Nine’s restructure, announced earlier this year to bring Stan, Channel 9 and 9Now closer together and reduce duplication between broadcast and digital teams.
An internal email from Amanda Laing, managing director of Streaming and Broadcast, acknowledged the upheaval and urged staff to support colleagues “as we navigate this change,” noting the process would be completed “as quickly as possible” while maintaining consultation requirements.
One staff member told Mediaweek the timing had intensified anxiety across the building: “It couldn’t have come at a worse time given we’re so close to Christmas. Everyone is freaking out.”
In a statement to Mediaweek, a Nine spokesperson said the restructure aims to “reduce duplication, drive greater collaboration and deliver commercial growth for Nine, while working to offset the challenging external advertising market.”
The company said it is prioritising affected workers’ wellbeing and exploring redeployment opportunities across the business.