Channel Seven Perth anchors Rick Ardon and Susannah Carr have been certified by the Guinness World Records as the longest serving television news anchor duo.
The official record for the weeknight anchors is 36 years and 247 days, beating a previous record set by a US duo that were on air together for 32 years.
Their record was officially recognised by Guinness after a lengthy trip down memory lane to provide video proof of every year they have read together.
Ardon said: “I’m humbled to be part of a news team Perth has watched for decades, and equally as excited about presenting the news with Sue into the future.”
Carr added: “What a fabulous journey it’s been and continues to be. Seven have the best news team, I’ve got the best reading partner and I love our relationship with the people of Perth. How lucky am I!”
This week marks 37 years of the pair bringing the news into the homes of West Australians, with their first live broadcast on 24 January 1985.
Ardon first joined Seven in 1978 as a news journalist and attributes a large part of his success to his grounding in news as an on-the-road reporter.
Meanwhile, Carr began her career in media in 1974 as a radio announcer after studying Law and Arts at the University of Western Australia, she later became the first female TV newsreader for the ABC in Perth.
Maryna Fewster, Seven West Media WA CEO, said: “Rick and Susannah are very much part of Perth’s identity, and with their longevity comes trust and credibility, which is paramount to our audience.
“There are West Australians who can’t remember a time that Rick and Susannah weren’t bringing them their nightly news. That relationship with our viewers is invaluable. I congratulate them on their well-deserved recognition and join with the wider Seven West Media team and broader community in celebrating their continued success.”
Craig McPherson, Seven’s director of News and Public Affairs, said: “Now into their fourth decade together, presenting more than 8,000 7NEWS nightly bulletins to the people of Western Australia, Rick and Susannah are not only the longest running news presenting team but also the most successful anywhere in the world.
“Hearty congratulations to Rick and Susannah from all your colleagues at Seven on a phenomenal achievement that continues to power on,” he added.
