Veteran Seven News Sydney anchor Mark Ferguson is marking a major milestone – both on and off screen – as he turns 60 and begins easing back from the demands of nightly news.
After more than 15 years at the helm of Seven’s 6pm bulletin, Ferguson and co-anchor Angela Cox have officially stepped away from Thursday night duties. The pair will now front the news from Sunday through Wednesday, with Michael Usher and Angie Asimus taking over the end-of-week slot.
The move is part of Seven Network’s broader strategy to stay competitive against arch rival Nine News, with early ratings suggesting a modest lift in Thursday audiences since the change.
Industry insiders say the shift is less about stepping back and more about strengthening the network’s overall line-up, giving presenters greater flexibility across the week and beyond the studio desk.
But for Ferguson, the timing also coincides with a more personal turning point.
Speaking candidly in a recent interview, the long-serving anchor admitted that turning 60 has prompted a deeper sense of reflection.
“I’m clinging on to the last days of my 50s as we speak,” he said. “It’s very strange … the big 6-0 seems to be a little bit more serious.”
While he’s quick to emphasise he’s not ready to walk away just yet, Ferguson acknowledged that the idea of retirement is beginning to surface.
“The retirement word starts appearing on the horizon,” he said. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking at that horizon and wondering how many more months or years I have in the industry.”
After a media career spanning more than three decades – including leading Sydney’s top-rating bulletin since 2009 – Ferguson says the milestone has sparked thoughts about what comes next.
“You start thinking, reflecting, planning, changing your mind,” he explained. “One day you are going to have to move on … and that takes a bit of courage.”
At the top of his list for the future? Travel.
“There’s a few mountains I’d like to walk up, a few seas I would like to swim in and a few islands I would love to visit,” he said – a reminder that even one of Australia’s most recognisable news faces still has adventures ahead.
Off screen, Ferguson says his proudest role remains much closer to home.
“I’d like to think the most important role I’ve had is that of being a dad,” he shared, speaking about his three sons.
For now, though, viewers can rest assured he isn’t going anywhere just yet.
“It has been a wonderful journey and I am happy to keep going a bit longer,” he said. “At the moment, I’m really enjoying it.”
And as he quietly celebrates his 60th birthday with family — “with a wine in my hand,” as he puts it — Ferguson reflects on a life and career he considers himself lucky to have lived.
“With age comes the ability to enjoy life a little bit more … I feel very, very lucky.”
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