She is already one of Australia's highest-paid TV stars, but could Lisa Wilkinson be eyeing up the country's most prestigious presenting job?
Some industry observers suspect The Project panellist, 62, may have her sights set on the hosting chair of ABC current affairs program 7.30.
Longtime anchor Leigh Sales, 48, announced on Thursday she was quitting the news show after 11 years because she wanted to spend more time with her two sons.
Speculation: Some industry observers suspect The Project host Lisa Wilkinson (pictured) may have her sights set on the hosting chair of ABC current affairs program 7.30
Shortly after her on-air resignation, Wilkinson shared a gushing tribute to Sales on Twitter, praising her 'class' and 'incredible tenure'.
'Twelve years in one of the toughest, most unforgiving and intensely scrutinised jobs in TV journalism. You are all class @leighsales,' she tweeted.
'Congrats on an incredible tenure. Can’t wait to see what comes next. X.'
Tellingly, the verified 7.30 Twitter account liked Wilkinson's post.
While Wilkinson has spent her career in commercial TV, her progressive views make her a good fit for the public broadcaster, and she also has a strong journalistic pedigree.
Taking a break: Longtime anchor Leigh Sales (pictured) announced on Thursday she was quitting the show after 11 years because she wanted to spend more time with her two sons
However, her contract with Channel 10 will likely keep her locked down for the foreseeable future.
She reportedly inked a 'multi-year deal' with the network in June 2021.
If she were to jump ship once her deal is up, she wouldn't be the first presenter from The Project to do so.
Charlie Pickering hosted the current affairs show from 2009 until 2014, when he quit and signed with the ABC to host satirical program The Weekly.
ABC veteran Sales shocked viewers last night by announcing she was quitting 7.30 after 11 years, saying her decision came down to her 'two beautiful little boys' wanting to see more of their mum.
Praise: Shortly after her on-air resignation, Wilkinson shared a gushing tribute to Sales on Twitter, praising her 'class' and 'incredible tenure'
Interesting: Tellingly, the verified 7.30 Twitter account liked Wilkinson's post
At the end of Thursday night's program she told viewers she wanted them to hear the news from her 'personally', as she explained she wanted to finally spend evenings with her kids after more than a decade.
She will step down later this year after the federal election.
'I was appointed to the job on December 3, 2010. This is my 12th year in the seat. That was five Prime Ministers ago. It was so long ago that Donald Trump was just a guy with a bad orange hairdo hosting The Apprentice,' she said.
'There's nothing wrong other than I just feel a strong sense of it being time to pass the baton to the next runner in the race and to take a break. At the end of an election cycle feels like a good time to move on to something new at the ABC.'
She said she hoped it was obvious she had always approached the job with one goal 'to ask frank questions of people in power, without fear or favour, that a fair-minded, reasonable person with some common sense watching at home might like to ask'.
In a possible first for an Australian TV news presenter, she then used strong language, saying she had 'tried to shut down and call out bulls**t, hold powerful people to account, expose lies, incompetence and exaggeration in all political parties and all issues and present facts even when they're unpopular or inconvenient'.
Sales said anchoring 7.30 has been 'the most amazing job and I'll never stop being grateful for the opportunities it's given me'.
She then mentioned one of her most memorable interviewees over the years.
'The celebrities come and go but you never
