Leigh Sales fights back tears as she signs off ABC’s 7.30 for the final time

An emotional Leigh Sales has signed off at 7.30 for the last time after almost 12 years in the role.

The long-time host of ABC’s top current affairs program will take six months off to spend quality time with her two young sons after announcing her shock departure earlier this year.

Sales’ farewell coincided with ABC’s 90th birthday celebrations on the same night.

Her last day began with a donut and coffee from 7-11 before spending several hours in the hair and make-up chair.

She was seen celebrating with friends, family and colleagues at ABC’s Sydney headquarters before the show and stepped outside briefly to greet her sons.

It was business as usual for a composed Sales at the start of Thursday’s night’s show as she got straight into introducing the first segment about 1994 fatal bombing…