Sam Armytage: Star and new man open up on horses and hearts
Sunrise star Samantha Armytage has revealed her new 60-year-old boyfriend, saying they share a love of horses and the simple country life.
Confidential
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Samantha Armytage’s celebrity friends have given a thumbs up to her very public display of affection with new boyfriend, Richard Lavender.
Sharing a love of horses and a quiet life in the country, the Sunrise presenter has opened up on her blossoming romance with the former farmer just a few months into their relationship as the pair make the Who Sexiest People list for 2019.
“His eyes were the first thing I saw,” Armytage said, adding that “there was a
connection” between the pair instantly when they met at Skye Leckie’s birthday bash in May.
Armytage shared the images to her social media this morning and was inundated with hundreds of messages of support.
Jessica Rowe, Angela Cox, Samantha Brett and Jodie Speers are among those to have shared love heart emoji’s in comments on the post.
Lavender, 60, is a former farmer based in the Southern Highlands who now rehomes, retrains and breeds thoroughbred horses.
One of the attractions for 43-year-old Armytage, who is extremely private outside of her work on breakfast TV, was the fact he is not part of “the media circus”.
“He doesn’t care what people think of him, which I admire greatly,” she told the magazine.
“He’s very decent, very honest. I love that he’s so modest.”
Of Armytage, he said: “She had a sparkle in her eye. She has a quick wit, a terrific sense of humour. I think a lot of the people who are in show business are a bit flouncy. I’ve seen a few celebrities in public — it’s not always attractive.”
With Armytage working out of Sunrise headquarters at Martin Place, the couple spend week days in the city and retire to his 40-hectare property at weekends.
“Richard is a fabulous rider,” she said.
“I rode as a kid and did pony club and didn’t get on a horse for about 20 years. I’m getting back into it. I’m a little bit more nervous than I used to be. When you’re a kid, you don’t think about hurting yourself.
“I’m a bit more wary than I used to be.”
Originally published as Sam Armytage: Star and new man open up on horses and hearts