Sunrise host Natalie Barr gets surprise message from Kyle Sandilands

Natalie Barr wrapped her first week as Sunrise co-host by making Kyle Sandilands eat his words.

A birthday, a blunder and a surprise anointing from “the pope” ended Natalie Barr’s first week as Sunrise host.

When opening the broadcast on Friday morning, Barr wished herself happy birthday – much to her co-hosts’ mirth.

“Hello everyone, sorry we’ve just been chatting.... Happy Birthday, I mean, sorry,” she said.

“I mean happy Friday everyone. I’m just so glad I’ve got to Friday. It has been a big week.”

David Koch, Mark Beretta and Edwina Bartholomew cracked up at the gaffe.

Natalie Barr at the Sunrise desk on her first day as host of Sunrise. Picture: John Grainger

The jovial mood on set continued with well wishers waving signs outside Brekky Central for the 52-year-old’s birthday.

She also received a surprise message from radio host Kyle Sandilands.

“Hello Natalie, Hello Kochie. Hello and happy birthday, I think I was wrong you’ve done a superb job. Everyone loves it, you’re fabulous, darling,” he said.

“Thank you Kyle, that is very nice, I really appreciate it,” Ms Barr responded.

"You're one week down and let's say, I think I was wrong, you've done a superb job"@KyleAndJackieO radio star Kyle Sandilands sends a birthday message to @Natalie_Barr after making some controversial comments earlier in the week. pic.twitter.com/eNCcaJKSvr

— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) March 18, 2021

“Kyle originally said the other day that I was cold, I didn’t deserve the job and it should have gone to someone outside the company.”

Kochie joked the compliment was like “getting a blessing from the pope.”

The shock jock originally bagged the decision for Ms Barr to replace Sam Armytage.

Kyle Sandilands wishes Natalie Barr a happy birthday, Picture: Sunrise on Seven

Samantha Armytage’s last day hosting Sunrise last Thursday. Picture: Channel 7

Ms Barr told The Daily Telegraph she planned on celebrating this weekend.

“It’s been an absolute whirlwind and I’m so grateful for all the beautiful messages of support from so many of our viewers,” she said. “I can’t quite believe it, to be honest.

“I’ll take a moment over the weekend to take it all in, maybe over a big glass of Kyle’s prosecco!”

The change in host had no effect on Sunrise dominance of the breakfast TV ratings.

Are you on the birthday drinks already, @Natalie_Barr? 🥂 pic.twitter.com/H50pjaNPLn

— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) March 18, 2021

While the show had a lift to 308,000 metro viewers last Thursday for Armytage’s farewell, on Monday it settled back into around 250,000 metro viewers.

On Tuesday it pulled in 239,000 viewers and on Wednesday 248,000, which are the kind of numbers the show was seeing with Armytage at the helm.

The show also still sits around 50,000 metro viewers ahead of rival Today.

After eight years as co-host alongside David Koch, Armytage walked away from Sunrise to start a “new chapter” in her life alongside husband Richard Lavender.

Meanwhile, Armytage’s media presence is still being felt.

Her podcast collaboration with Stellar, Something To Talk About, has climbed up the Apple Podcast charts and is sitting at Number 2.