Samantha Armytage announces she is quitting Channel 7

Samantha Armytage has announced she is leaving Channel 7 after 21 years with the network. The viewer favourite says she still has ‘gas in the tank’ and is excited about the future.

The sun has set on Samantha Armytage’s time at Channel 7, with the star journalist and presenter splitting with the network after 21 years.

News Corp can reveal Armytage’s contract with the network expires in October. She was offered another contract, which she declined.

“It’s a little sad and it’s bittersweet, but the time has come. I leave with lots of goodwill in my heart and excitement about the future,” former Sunrise host and Farmer Wants a Wife frontwoman Armytage told News Corp.

“I’m big on instinct. I listen to my instinct. I know when the time comes. I am proud of the fact that I back myself enough to say, ‘I’ve done what I can do here’ and I move on.

“This is not the end. It’s just the end of this chapter.”

The high-profile exit of Armytage — one of the network’s most popular household names — comes at a tumultuous time for Seven, which has seen it restructure its news department amid blowback over several high-profile exits, including newsreader Sharyn Ghidella.

Samantha Armytage is leaving Channel 7 after 21 years with the network. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The decision to now leave the Seven Network altogether was about “wanting to feel fulfilled,” Armytage said.

“I came to this decision on my own, it’s about what I want to do with my life.

“(Husband Richard Lavender) is very supportive of whatever I do, but this was about me wanting to feel fulfilled.

“I had to sit with myself here and ask, ‘What does my next 5 to 10 years look like?’.

“I’m 47, so it was a bit of a stocktake,” Armytage said. “I’m still productive. I want to make good TV.”

Armytage with husband Richard Lavender. Picture: Supplied

Reflecting on her most recent position at the network, hosting Farmer Wants a Wife, Armytage said: “I was happy to do more. Farmer takes up six months of the year, so I had the time to do more but that wasn’t to be,” she said.

Armytage will still appear as Seven talent at this month’s Logies, with Farmer Wants A Wife nominated for Best Structured Reality Program.

While the new series of the show is in pre-production, Armytage will not host it. Instead, the show’s original host, Natalie Gruzlewski, will return.

“I’m so fond of Farmer and it was a great show to be a part of. I absolutely adore the crew,” Armytage said.

“Australians will always love farmers and everyone wants farmers to fall in love.”

Before Farmer Wants a Wife, Armytage was best known as the host of Sunrise for eight years alongside David Koch.

She left the morning news program in March 2021 with her final day on air sending viewership skyrocketing, with 100,000 more people tuning in compared to Channel 9’s Today.

At the time, Armytage, who had recently married Lavender, said her decision to leave the show was to “find some peace and calm.”

Broadcasting Sunrise with co-host David Koch. Picture: Channel 7

Away from work, Armytage has spent the past six weeks recovering from a hip replacement, which doctors believe was caused by a skiing accident 30 years ago. Armytage said she could not remember a time when she did not feel pain, but it had become unbearable in the past five years. However, she didn’t tell anyone.

“I just go through it. Us Armytages are very tough people. We are from the Snowy Mountains, so we are bloody tough. Otherwise I wouldn’t have survived this long in television,” Armytage said.

“Now I feel amazing. It’s a brand new Sam. I’m not in pain any more.”

Armytage announces her exit on Sunrise. Picture: Channel 7

Armytage grew up on a sheep property in Adaminaby, NSW, before starting her career in Canberra. She joined Seven as a 26-year-old after executives noticed her talent while covering the 2003 Canberra bushfires.

Under the late CEO David Leckie and news boss Peter Meakin, Armytage was integral in rebuilding 7News as a brand and reclaiming the No.1 spot from Nine.

She hosted Seven’s 4.30 News, did the inaugural story for Seven’s Sunday program, and covered events like Schapelle Corby’s trial and the Paris terror attacks in 2015.

She woke up before the sun for eight years on Weekend Sunrise, before former executive producer Michael Pell gave her the reins at Sunrise in 2013, which has become one of her “proudest moments.”

Armytage, pictured with her dance partner Brendon Midson, says she’s proud of her stint on Dancing With The Stars.

“I look back at my time very fondly. It was hard work. The hours were crazy and I tend to get a lot of attention, so there were times when it was quite tricky,” Armytage said.

“Overall, my memories are very happy and god we made some good TV.

“I interviewed literally every superstar on the planet. I danced with Miley Cyrus, I’ve been kissed by Justin Bieber.

“It was just an incredible time. We did five countries in five days. We covered all the big news stories but we also had a great deal of fun.”

For someone who admits “she absolutely cannot dance”, she came fourth on Dancing With The Stars which she says, “is quite a feather in my cap”.

She’s also appeared on Bringing Sexy Back and worked on the horseracing coverage for the network.

“It’s been like a family. I’ve spent my whole adult life at the Seven,” Armytage says.

“It’s been a wild ride. There has been lots of hard work, varied experiences and incredible experiences. I’ve covered the biggest stories for more than two decades.

“It’s been a privilege to be able to be in a great position at what has been a great network.

Hosting Farmer Wants A Wife was a true labour of love for Armytage.

“I’m very grateful. A special thank you to Kerry and Christine Stokes (Seven chairman and his wife) because Kerry has always supported me and been extraordinarily generous and I thank him for that.

“I’ve got to work with some extraordinary people. To work alongside legends like (journalists and presenters) Ian Ross and Bruce McAvaney, and also, many fantastic women, role models and true pioneers like (journalists and newsreaders) Ann Sanders and Sharyn Ghidella.

“It’s been an incredible time.”

In a statement, Angus Ross, managing director of Seven Television, said Armytage had made a “remarkable contribution” to the network, but focused specifically on time on Farmer Wants a Wife.

“After 21 years, Samantha Armytage has decided to leave the Seven Network in October this year. We fully understand and support her decision,” he said.

“Her genuine affection for the country lifestyle she’s grown up with and enjoys to this day has shone through her three seasons with the TV Week Logie Award-nominated series.

“It’s been a pleasure watching Sam share her pride of these communities with Australia as our incredible farmer love stories have unfolded.

“We wish Sam — and her farmer — every happiness and success for the future.”

Armytage will attend the Logies Awards this month. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Post-Logies, she’s waiting to see what transpires.

As for the future, Armytage said: “I want to be productive. I want to be content.

“And this sounds cutesy, but I want to have a happy life.

“I was talking to a girlfriend the other day, and she said, ‘You’ve really done all of it. You don’t have anything to prove anymore, so have fun with it now’.

“I find myself in a really great position

“At the age of 47, I feel like that’s actually quite fortuitous.

“I’ve still got gas in the tank, so, let’s see what happens from here.”

Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Message 0481 056 618 or email [e-mail]