Speculation around the future of Channel Seven‘s Mel McLaughlin continues to swirl, with the glamorous sports reporter yet to return to the network.
McLaughlin, 46, has been off-air since January, taking approved leave. However, the initial date of her expected return has now passed.
News Corp reported that McLaughlin would be off-air for six weeks for some ‘well-earned leave’.
However, that period has been extended to an eight-week vacation, with the network telling the publication that she is not expected to be back on air until March 15 ‘at the earliest.’
Claiming that Seven bosses had been ‘vague’ to staff about McLaughlin’s return, the publication also suggested that staff expected her to be in the contingent headed to Las Vegas for the NRL season kick off.
However, McLaughlin was absent, with Seven sending new recruit Matt White along with Jelisa Apps.
Speculation around the future of Channel Seven’s Mel McLaughlin continues to swirl, with the glamorous sports reporter yet to return to the network
McLaughlin was reportedly blindsided when Seven announced White was returning to the broadcaster after five years on morning radio with sports station SEN.
White will also be the face of Seven’s expanded NRL coverage this season.
Additionally, McLaughlin was overlooked for a hosting role ahead of the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Racing identity Emma Freedman will instead join Sunrise host Matt Shirvington as anchors of the primetime coverage.
Daily Mail understands McLaughlin’s reported salary of $500,000 has been slashed following Seven’s merger with media company SCA in January.
It is understood that McLaughlin is exclusively contracted to the network, but is not a full-time employee.
That means McLaughlin invoices Seven when she appears on air – an arrangement that has favourable tax benefits, but means she does not accrue staff benefits such as annual leave.
‘Look, Mel hasn’t been around much lately because she is very expensive,’ a TV insider told Daily Mail in February.
McLaughlin, 47, has been off-air since January, taking approved leave. However, the initial date of her expected return has now passed
News Corp reported that McLaughlin would be off-air for six weeks for some ‘well earned leave’. However, that period has been extended to an eight-week vacation, with the network telling the publication that she is not expected to be back on air until March 15 ‘at the earliest’
‘So the big dogs [at Seven] only get the chequebook out during ratings season.’
Daily Mail has reached out to Channel Seven for comment.
It comes as Mel recently split with her boyfriend of ten years, Ashley Westwood.
The glamorous reporter and her long-term partner, 49, are said to have separated last year, News Corp reported last month.
However, sources were unclear whether the separation occurred before or after Westwood left his coaching job at the Hong Kong Football Club in November.
Westwood and McLaughlin kept a very low profile during their relationship.
The pair met in late 2015 while she was in India working for Star TV on contract with Network Ten.
Westwood, a father of five by three different women, and his second wife Huma, were staying at the same Mumbai hotel when he and McLaughlin met.
Claiming that Seven bosses had been ‘vague’ to staff about McLaughlin’s return, the publication also suggested that staff expected her to be in the contingent headed to Las Vegas for the NRL season kick off
However, McLaughlin was absent, with Seven sending new recruit Matt White (pictured), and Jelisa Apps
The British football manager, who was coaching a Malaysian soccer team at the time, has since said his romance with McLaughlin began in 2016, after his marriage ended.
McLaughlin was already divorced when she met Westwood, having separated from her musician husband Luke Panic in 2014.
The glamorous presenter, who was born and raised in Sydney, rose to prominence after joining Fox Sports in 2007.
Six years later, McLaughlin was poached by Network Ten to host their Big Bash coverage, before moving to Seven in 2016.
Westwood is an English professional football coach and former player for Manchester United.
