Channel Seven has hired a new TV star to co-present its 7News bulletin alongside its long-serving presenter in a major presenting shake-up.
She joined the channel’s 6pm weekday news bulletin alongside veteran broadcaster Mark Ferguson, with the pair making their on-screen debut on Monday.
Just days after taking office, she appeared to be in excellent spirits as she was spotted out for a morning stroll in her sportswear in Sydney on Wednesday.
The presenter, who has worked with Seven for around 25 years, cut a sporty figure as she headed to the gym in Bondi with a friend.
She cut a casual figure in a black long-sleeved T-shirt and skinny jeans, which she paired with a pair of white sneakers.
The journalist added a pop of color with a red rain jacket tied around her waist and kept her essentials in a black backpack.
She went makeup-free for the low-key outing and carried her phone and headphones in one hand during her active morning in the sunshine.
She flashed a big smile as she looked to be in jovial form, but can you guess who it is?
Angela Cox, who made her debut as a 7News co-presenter this week, looked to be in excellent spirits as she was spotted taking a morning walk in her sportswear in Sydney on Wednesday.
Cox, who has worked with broadcaster Seven for 25 years, cut a sporty figure as she headed to the gym in Bondi with a friend.
That’s right, it’s Angela Cox! She made her primetime television debut on 7News alongside Ferguson, 58, on Monday night.
Ferguson has presented the 7News Sydney bulletin for a decade and will now co-host the show alongside Cox in a major change.
It is the first time Ferguson has worked with a co-presenter, with the seasoned star having long been known to host the bulletin single-handedly.
The presenter change comes amid a series of media job cuts at Channel Seven as the broadcaster has been looking to cut costs amid a tough advertising environment.
The network recently shocked fans by suddenly firing longtime host Sharyn Ghidella, while Robert Ovadia, Andrew Frampton and Cameron Baud have also left.
It is not the first time Cox has appeared on 7News, having previously filled in for Ferguson and presented the 6pm bulletin in July while he was on leave during the Olympics.
His solo debut had sparked rumours that new Seven bosses were looking to replace veteran presenter Ferguson, but his debut as co-presenter poured cold water on the speculation.
Sources close to the show have previously told how Seven bosses were impressed by Cox when she temporarily replaced Ferguson on the show.
“Everyone thought it was going to be Angela and Michael together but people are really impressed with Ange alone, it’s a bit of a surprise,” said one.
‘Angela gets incredibly high ratings in the focus groups, so the heads of all the networks will be watching her very closely and conducting their own investigations.’
Channel Seven has signed Cox to co-present its 7News bulletin with his long-standing presenter Mark Ferguson (both pictured) in a big presentation change.
Cox officially confirmed her new role at 7News last week, taking to Instagram to share an official photograph of herself and Mark along with a gushing caption.
She wrote: ‘Breaking news, fresh in… I’m delighted to report that @mark_fergo and I will be sharing the desk in an exciting new era for @7newssyd.
‘Fergo has won over many loyal viewers with his warmth, integrity and humility, and has led our team for more than a decade. I am honoured to be able to sit alongside him as we continue to strive to deliver Sydney’s best news service.
‘We have an incredible team of award-winning journalists, producers and production staff who work incredibly hard every day to deliver first-class coverage of the news that matters most to our viewers.
‘The way Australians consume news is evolving, and so are we. Thank you to all of our viewers who have been so kind and supportive while I’ve been on my own for the past few weeks.
“I hope you’ll tune in when Fergo and I go live next Sunday. Let’s do this.”
Ferguson said he was “really looking forward” to working with Cox and described it as a “fresh start” for him as he had never had a co-presenter on the bulletin before.
“Ange will bring a lot more to the nightly bulletin – more experience, more energy and it will allow us to be much more versatile when big stories emerge,” he said.
“In a way, it’s a new beginning for me. I’ve never been a co-presenter before, so I hope Ange can teach this old dog some new tricks. She’s a talented journalist, a great presenter and an even better person.”
Cox is no newcomer to Seven, having been best known for co-presenting the 6pm 7News bulletin alongside Michael Usher at weekends, a role she has held since 2014.
When Cox replaced Ferguson on the 7News bulletin in July, there were rumours that she would replace him, but their joint debut on Monday poured cold water on the rumours.
Cox (pictured with Ferguson) is no newcomer to television screens, being best known for co-presenting the 6pm weekend 7News bulletin, a role she has held since 2014.
He also worked as a US correspondent for Seven, hosted its nightly news programme The Latest and had a role in its former current affairs special Sunday Night.
During her 25 years at the network, Cox has covered some of the world’s biggest events, including the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Olympic Games.
While working in the United States, she also covered five Academy Awards, as well as the Golden Globes, Grammys and Emmys before deciding to return to Australia.
Cox has had a passion for reporting since she was a child and studied journalism in Queensland with the hope of working on fashion magazines.
However, he then met a contact who worked in television and convinced him to give him work experience, thus beginning his long career on screen.
For three months, she did work experience during the week and worked part-time at weekends to make ends meet before landing a job at Seven.
“The best journalism is about sharing people’s stories and getting them to trust you so you can share their stories; it’s not about ego,” he said of his career.