Jennifer Leigh to Retire From WFLA After 34 Years
The longtime Tampa Bay anchor will sign off with her final broadcast on December 23, 2026.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Seniors
Jennifer Leigh will retire from WFLA-TV after nearly 34 years with the station, following her final broadcast on Wednesday, December 23, 2026. Leigh joined WFLA as an intern in 1993 and rose to become a main anchor in 2014.
Why it matters
Leigh's departure marks the end of a long on-air tenure for a familiar Tampa Bay news presence. She says she looks forward to spending more time with her husband and family and pursuing opportunities her television career had placed on hold.
Leigh's career at WFLA-TV spans nearly 34 years, starting as an intern in 1993, becoming Polk County bureau reporter in 1995, and joining the main anchor team in 2014. Her final broadcast is scheduled for Wednesday, December 23, 2026, and no replacement has been named.
The players
Jennifer Leigh
A longtime Tampa Bay television anchor at WFLA-TV, Leigh is recognized for her Emmy Award and her work with Volunteers in Service to the Elderly, Academy Prep Center of St. Petersburg, and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
WFLA-TV
WFLA-TV is a Tampa-based television station and the Tampa Bay news outlet where Leigh built nearly her entire career.
The details
Leigh succeeded Gayle Sierens on the 5 and 11 p.m. newscasts and helped launch News Channel 8 at 7 p.m. in 2012. She has received an Emmy Award and the Legacy Award from the Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists, and is a Distinguished Alumna of the University of South Florida.
Timeline
1993: Leigh joins WFLA-TV as an intern and becomes a full-time associate producer.
1995: Leigh is named WFLA-TV's first Polk County bureau reporter.
2012: Leigh helps launch News Channel 8 at 7 p.m.
2014: Leigh is named to WFLA-TV's main anchor team.
December 23, 2026: Leigh's final broadcast on WFLA-TV.
Seniors Lens
Leigh's retirement follows a longtime WFLA anchor succession that started when she replaced Gayle Sierens on the 5 and 11 p.m. newscasts. For Tampa Bay viewers who grew up with her on air, her departure marks a generational change in the station's nightly lineup.
Tampa Bay viewers who have watched Leigh's nightly newscasts will see a new anchor in her place after December 23, 2026. Those who follow the station's coverage of local seniors and community groups may also notice the end of her work with organizations such as Volunteers in Service to the Elderly.
The takeaway
Long-serving local journalists often leave a deep imprint on their communities, and Leigh's three-decade run at WFLA-TV shows how steady presence can shape a region's news habits. Viewers who want to mark her career can watch for her final broadcast on December 23, 2026.
What happens next
Leigh's final broadcast on WFLA-TV is scheduled for Wednesday, December 23, 2026.
Further reading
Explore more Seniors coverage from Tampa.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WFLA.
