Sunrise host Sam Armytage takes leave to deal with health issues

Sunrise’s Sam Armytage has been forced to take leave from the show to deal with ongoing health issues. Channel 7 bosses have denied it’s led to tensions on set with co-hosts David Koch and Natalie Barr, who have been forced to take on extra work.

• MAFS star in hiding after bikie bash threat
• Annette Sharp: Call a neighbour and perhaps you’ll save a life

With the fierce battle for the 2020 breakfast television timeslot barely begun, Seven’s reigning breakfast queen Samantha Armytage has taken unscheduled leave from Sunrise.

The presenter went on leave last Monday after talks with Seven news ­director Craig McPherson and Sunrise executive producer Mic­hael Pell.

In a social media post last week, Armytage said she had been laid low in recent months with a “respiratory infection” and was frightened by the coronavirus outbreak.

Sunrise co-host Samantha Armytage has taken unscheduled leave to deal with a “respiratory infection”. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

“Hi all, I’m taking a few weeks off work as I’ve had a ­respiratory infection — for three months — since the bushfires and it just won’t heal,” she posted in an Instagram story with an accompanying photograph showing the presenter, in woollen winter wear, with her dog.

“I DON’T have coronavirus but I’m worried I’ll get it if I don’t get better. Thought it was a good time to lie low,” Armytage added.

Network sources claim the leave followed weeks of heightened tension on the set of Sunrise.

Armytage’s absences this year have added to co-hosts David Koch and Natalie Barr’s workloads.

Armytage has missed about 14 days of production since the show returned to air for 2020 on January 6 and the absences have added to David Koch and Natalie Barr’s co-hosting workloads. Koch has a four-day-a-week arrangement with the network.

MORE NEWS

Kyly Clarke: ‘My daughter is 100 per cent my priority’

Teen’s diary reveals sordid truth over baby’s father

In a prepared statement, McPherson on Saturday said: “Sam, as we know, has been battling illness for months. We decided it best for her to take leave to rest and recover and come back 100 per cent, which she is doing.

“In regard to your question about a tearful meeting in my ­office, there were no tears.”

Sunrise executive producer Mic­hael Pell. Picture Luke Marsden

Seven news ­director Craig McPherson. Picture: Britta Campion

McPherson denied there were issues between the castmates in recent months.

“The Sunrise team is very supportive of Sam’s situation but like the rest of the world are far more focused on the corona­virus crisis and keeping Australia informed,” he said.

Michael Pell did not return The Sunday Telegraph’s calls for comment on Saturday.

A month ago, Sunrise executive producer Pell denied Army­tage’s absences were due to her renegotiating a four-day working week.

Armytage’s Seven contract lapses at the end of this year.

Originally published as Sunrise host Sam Armytage takes leave to deal with health issues