Leigh Sales: Biography, Career, Family, and Bluey Cameo

Few Australian journalists have managed to shift from grilling politicians to hosting a beloved documentary series while also popping up as a voice in a children’s cartoon. That’s Leigh Sales – a journalist whose career has taken her from the White House press pool to the animated world of Bluey.

Born: 10 May 1973 ·
Occupation: Journalist and author ·
Known for: Anchor of Australian Story, former host of 7.30 ·
Children: Two children

Six facts together paint a clear picture of Leigh Sales’s professional identity and current status.

The data confirms a career built on ABC’s flagship programs and a private family life that remains mostly out of the spotlight.

Is Leigh Sales still married?

Leigh Sales’ partner

• Leigh Sales is reportedly married, but her partner’s name is not publicly confirmed (Wikipedia (biographical details)).

Children and family life

• She has two children, according to her professional biography on ABC (ABC News (author profile)). However, their ages are not disclosed.

Bottom line: Sales keeps her family life very private. What is known: she is married, has two children, and has said in interviews that family priorities influenced her career decisions.

The implication: her decision to leave 7.30 was partly driven by a desire to spend more time at home, a pattern consistent with many senior journalists stepping back from daily news.

What does Leigh Sales do now?

Anchor of Australian Story

• Since 2023, Sales has been the anchor of ABC’s weekly documentary series Australian Story (Wikipedia).

Co-host of Chat 10 Looks 3 podcast

• She co-hosts the popular podcast Chat 10 Looks 3 with Annabel Crabb, a role she has held since 2014 (Wikipedia).

Author of Storytellers

• Sales published Storytellers in 2023, a book exploring the art of narrative (IMDb (public figure profile)).

Why this matters
Sales has transitioned from hard news to long-form storytelling, leveraging her interviewing skills in a format that allows deeper exploration. For viewers, this means a shift from daily political analysis to weekly human-interest narratives.

Who is Leigh Sales best friend?

Friendship with Lisa Millar

• Leigh Sales and fellow ABC journalist Lisa Millar have been friends for more than 30 years, a bond they have discussed publicly (Wikipedia (referencing ABC podcasts)).

Over 30 years of friendship

• The pair met early in their careers and have remained close, appearing together on ABC programs and in social media posts (Instagram (verified account)).

The pattern: Sales’s enduring friendships within the ABC suggest a collaborative, loyal professional network that has supported her through major career shifts.

Who does Leigh Sales play in Bluey?

Bluey cameo role

• Sales voiced Bella, Coco’s mother, in the season two episode “Baby Race” (2020) (Wikipedia).
• She also voiced an ice-cream lady in the episode “Ice Cream” (Wikipedia).
• According to ScreenRant (entertainment media), Sales voiced a cocker spaniel who works at an ice cream cart in three episodes.

Celebrity voice actors in Bluey

• Sales joins a roster of Australian celebrities who have made cameo appearances on the award-winning children’s show, including Hamish Blake and Anthony Field (Wikipedia (Bluey page)).

The upshot
Sales’s Bluey cameos have introduced her to a new generation of fans, cementing her status as a familiar voice in Australian culture across age groups.

Why did Leigh Sales quit the 7.30 report?

Reasons for leaving

• Sales left 7.30 after 11 years to spend more time with her family, according to an interview with The Australian (via Wikipedia references).

Transition to Australian Story

• Her move to host Australian Story in 2023 allowed her to continue working at the ABC in a less demanding daily role (Wikipedia).

The trade-off: she swapped the pressure of a nightly current affairs program for a weekly documentary format, trading immediacy for depth and flexibility.

Timeline

• 1973 – Born in Brisbane, Australia (Wikipedia)
• Early 2000s – ABC foreign correspondent in Washington DC (IMDb)
• 2008–2010 – Host of ABC’s Lateline (IMDb)
• 2011–2022 – Host of ABC’s 7.30 (Wikipedia)
• 2014 – Launched Chat 10 Looks 3 podcast with Annabel Crabb (Wikipedia)
• 2020 – Voiced character in Bluey (Wikipedia)
• 2023 – Became anchor of Australian Story (IMDb)

This timeline shows a steady ascent through ABC’s ranks, with each pivot expanding her reach into new formats.

Clarity

Based on available evidence, here’s what is confirmed and what remains uncertain about Leigh Sales.

Confirmed facts

• Leigh Sales was born on 10 May 1973 (Wikipedia)
• She is an Australian journalist and author best known for ABC (Wikipedia)
• She hosted ABC’s 7.30 from 2011 to 2022 (Wikipedia)
• She has co-hosted Chat 10 Looks 3 with Annabel Crabb since 2014 (Wikipedia)
• She voiced a character in Bluey (Wikipedia)
• She was appointed Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2019 (IMDb)

What remains unclear

• Exact marital status details (partner’s name or current relationship status)
• Exact ages of her children

Quotes

“They want me home.”

— Leigh Sales, explaining her decision to leave 7.30 (via Wikipedia (citing The Australian))

“We’ve been friends for more than 30 years.”

— Leigh Sales and Lisa Millar, discussing their friendship (via Wikipedia (citing ABC podcast))

Leigh Sales’s career reflects a deliberate shift from breaking news to crafting stories, with personal connections and family priorities anchoring her choices. For the Australian media audience, her trajectory illustrates a rare balance: high-profile journalism without sacrificing privacy. The takeaway is that Sales has mastered the art of reinvention within the same institution, proving that adaptability and authenticity can sustain a decades-long career.

Related reading: Tripti Dimri: Biography, Age, Movies & Relationship Status

Frequently asked questions