Sam Armytage’s surprise TV move after split

She quit morning TV in 2021 to start a new life in the country with her husband – now, newly single Sam Armytage has done a big U-turn.

Longtime Sunrise host Samantha Armytage has made a return to breakfast television – this time on her new network, Nine.

Armytage made her debut as co-host of the Today show this morning, co-hosting the program with weather presenter Dan Anstey.

The pair took over the reins from Weekend Today hosts David Campbell and Sylvia Jeffreys, who in turn were filling in for Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo.

Armytage, who co-hosted Seven’s rival breakfast show Sunrise with David Koch from 2013 to 2021, addressed the elephant in the room at the very top of the show.

“I’ve remembered where I am, on channel Nine. Isn’t it lovely to be on channel Nine?” she asked, before saying it was “nice to meet” her new co-host.

Sam Armytage co-hosting the Today show with Dan Anstey this morning.

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“Well, we met at Melbourne Cup, didn’t we? You were handsome as always,” she told him.

Armytage, who started her TV career on Nine, recently rejoined the network as host of the new dating show The Golden Bachelor, which will premiere in 2025.

The career shake-up comes amid a dramatic development in her personal life, with the recent news Amrytage has split from her husband of almost four years, Richard Lavender.

News.com.au’s Annette Sharp reported earlier this month that Armytage moved out of Lavender’s Berrima homestead in the NSW Southern Highlands several weeks ago, following the breakdown of their relationship.

Armytage had husband Richard Lavender by her side for her last Sunrise episode in 2021.

“Yes Richard and I have separated. All breakups are hard, but it’s somewhat lessened by the fact it’s amicable and we wish the best for each other,” she confirmed in a statement to the Daily Telegraph.

“I appreciate you respecting our privacy. I won’t be making any further comment.”

Armytage bid an emotional farewell to Sunrise in 2021, citing her recent wedding to Lavender as a key reason for quitting the morning TV grind.

“I want to step out of this public world for a while, take some time and calm things down, enjoy a bit of slow living and spend some time with my precious family and husband,” she said at the time.

After she left, she spoke openly in interviews about what a “relief” it had been to leave morning television.

“I love the fact that people will still lean over the trolleys in Woolies and grab me on the arm and say, ‘I really miss you and I’m so happy you’re happy’,” she told Stellar in April last year.

Of Lavender, she said at the time that “I think we make a good match. I was very lucky to find him at that point in my life.”

Originally published as Sam Armytage’s surprise TV move after split