Spotlight reporter Denham Hitchcock resigns from Channel 7 to sail around the world with his family: 'The ocean is calling'

By Monique Friedlander For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

Top 7News Spotlight reporter Denham Hitchcock has resigned from the Seven Network to embark on a sailing trip with his young family. 

The journalist, 44, confirmed his big news via a lengthy Instagram post Friday, telling fans he plans to work as a freelance journalist while travelling at sea. 

'New year. New start. I have resigned from the Channel Seven network,' he began. 

Top 7News Spotlight reporter Denham Hitchcock, 44, (pictured) has resigned from the Seven Network to embark on a sailing trip with his young family.

Top 7News Spotlight reporter Denham Hitchcock, 44, (pictured) has resigned from the Seven Network to embark on a sailing trip with his young family.

'This is normally where people say they need to spend more time with their family, and that is certainly true, my girls are everything to me, but there's other reasons,' Hitchcock, who shares two-year-old daughter Kaia with his Brazilian wife Mari Borge. 

Hitchcock then reflected on his illustrious broadcasting career and the life lessons he learned along the way. 

'In my 28 years as a TV journalist I've worked in 7 different newsrooms in three countries. Predominantly, doing stories about terrible things that happen to good people, and each of those stories left an impact,' he explained. 

The journalist confirmed his big news via a lengthy Instagram post Friday, telling fans he plans to work as a freelance journalist while travelling at sea. Pictured with wife Mari Borge

The journalist confirmed his big news via a lengthy Instagram post Friday, telling fans he plans to work as a freelance journalist while travelling at sea. Pictured with wife Mari Borge

'There's only one lesson from them, time waits for no one, and dreams shouldn't be left on the pillow.' 

Hitchcock, who currently lives on a boat after selling all his possessions three years ago, said he's read to follow his heart and live off-grid. 

'The ocean is calling once more and this salty boat life needs further exploring, in the pacific islands, and potentially beyond,' he declared. 

'This is normally where people say they need to spend more time with their family, and that is certainly true, my girls are everything to me, but there's other reasons,' Hitchcock, who shares two-year-old daughter Kaia (left) with his Brazilian wife Mari Borge (centre)

'This is normally where people say they need to spend more time with their family, and that is certainly true, my girls are everything to me, but there's other reasons,' Hitchcock, who shares two-year-old daughter Kaia (left) with his Brazilian wife Mari Borge (centre) 

He went on to praise his colleagues at Seven's Spotlight documentary unit and vowed to honour the network's commitment to 'fearless reporting' as he embarks on a freelance career.

'I wish my colleagues at Spotlight, and the network, all the best and thank them for their unwavering support for almost a decade. Fearless reporting remains essential,' he wrote, adding: 'I'll be going freelance, but predominantly I'll be preparing our floating home to cross oceans  - the last great wilderness.' 

He concluded with a heartfelt message to the 'hundreds of people' he interviewed for Spotlight, praising them for 'entrusting him with their life story, often at the worst possible time.'  

Hitchcock, who currently lives on a boat after selling all his possessions three years ago, said he's read to follow his heart and live off-grid. Pictured on his boat with wife Mari

Hitchcock, who currently lives on a boat after selling all his possessions three years ago, said he's read to follow his heart and live off-grid. Pictured on his boat with wife Mari 

He concluded with a heartfelt message to the 'hundreds of people' he interviewed for Spotlight, praising them for 'entrusting him with their life story, often at the worst possible time'

He concluded with a heartfelt message to the 'hundreds of people' he interviewed for Spotlight, praising them for 'entrusting him with their life story, often at the worst possible time' 

A former Nine journalist, Hitchcock joined the Seven Network in 2014 to work for its Sunday Night current affairs program

A former Nine journalist, Hitchcock joined the Seven Network in 2014 to work for its Sunday Night current affairs program

'My intention is always to not just report what happened, but to make a difference, and that won't change.'

A former Nine journalist, Hitchcock joined the Seven Network in 2014 to work for its Sunday Night current affairs program. 

When the show was eventually axed in 2020, Hitchcock was retrained to work on hour-long documentaries for Seven. 

Around this time, he and his wife decided to sell their possessions and live on a boat they had spent the past two years renovating. 

In July 2021 it was announced Hitchcock had joined Seven's newly-formed Spotlight documentary unit. 

When the show was eventually axed in 2020, Hitchcock was retrained to work on hour-long documentaries for Seven. Around this time, he and his wife decided to sell their possessions and live on a boat they had spent the past two years renovating

When the show was eventually axed in 2020, Hitchcock was retrained to work on hour-long documentaries for Seven. Around this time, he and his wife decided to sell their possessions and live on a boat they had spent the past two years renovating 

Channel Seven

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