Former 7 News Spotlight presenter Denham Hitchcock took to social media this morning to announce he is returning to the program after stepping away for a few years.
Denham recently returned to Sydney with his wife Mari and young daughter after spending time sailing on their catamaran and documenting the journey on YouTube, and the family has since welcomed a baby boy.
Hitchcock had been instrumental in shaping 7 News Spotlight since its inception until his departure in early 2023, helping to grow the program from a few specials to an almost year-round weekly current affairs program for the network.
Shortly after leaving 7 News Spotlight, Denham Hitchcock delved into the 20-year-old murder mystery of Marea Yann in the Sky News Australia documentary Who Murdered Marea? in May 2023.
Taking to Instagram this morning, he shared:
“I’m back. It’s time to wash some of the salt out – and get back to what I do best.”
He reflected on his time with the program, saying:
“Back in 2019 the network asked me to start what would eventually become the Spotlight program with one producer and one cameraman – and as the limited shows proved successful, the team quickly grew and it would turn into the network’s flagship program.”
Hitchcock added:
“I stepped away for a few years to go sailing with the family – and have returned to find a new team, new reporters, a fresh energy, an abundance of stories, and some genuine excitement about the year ahead.”
TV Blackbox understands Hitchcock is likely returning to Spotlight as a producer initially, bringing his expertise to the team after a challenging few years for Seven’s flagship current affairs program, most notably the Bruce Lehrmann case.
Changes to the program in recent times include the appointment of new Executive Producer Gemma Williams under new News boss Anthony De Ceglie, as it continues to evolve with a relatively new team and refreshed energy.
While rival Nine has already brought back 60 Minutes for 2025, 7 News Spotlight aired a few new episodes late last year before switching to repeats over the summer, with new episodes expected to return soon.
