Sunrise weatherman Sam Mac reveals truth behind Sam Armytage ‘feud’

Sunrise weatherman Sam Mac has revealed the ‘dark and twisted’ secret he shared with Sam Armytage and the truth behind the ongoing behind-the-scenes rift between the pair.

Sunrise weatherman Sam Mac has made light of his alleged feud with former host of the breakfast TV juggernaut, Sam Armytage.

Releasing a book titled Accidental Weatherman, Mac acknowledged ongoing tabloid stories of a behind the scenes rift between the pair.

“Samantha, you were my big sister on the show,” Mac, whose real last name is McMillan, wrote in his ‘Macknowledgements’ section at the back of the book.

The former Sunrise team, from left, Edwina, Bartholomew, Mark Beretta, Samantha Armytage, David Koch, Natalie Barr and Sam Mac.

“We reached a point where we were so comfortably heckling one another that some audience members (and Daily Mail ‘journalists’) actually thought we hated each other. I wear that as a badge of honour. I loved discovering that you have a sense of humour as dark and twisted as mine. And I think that’s a compliment, or a desperate cry for a few sessions with a psychiatrist.”

Armytage last month finished up her eight-year stint as co-host of the market leading breakfast show alongside David ‘Kochie’ Koch.

“I was also privileged, off the air, to experience the caring, loyal side of you that not everybody gets to see,” Mac wrote. “It means a lot. I can't wait to see what you do next, and thanks for teaching me to stop and smell the lavender.”

Sam Mac – Accidental Weatherman.

Sam Armytage on set during her last shift. Picture John Grainger

Armytage married partner Richard Lavender on New Year’s Eve.

Mac acknowledged all of the key on-air Sunrise team members, as well as executive producer Michael Pell, who he joked about his penchant for self-promotion.

“I’m lucky I didn’t get you to edit this section or it would’ve turned into a glossy gallery of your perfectly lit promo shots,” he wrote.

Of Kochie, Mac wrote of being made him endure a night in the corporate box at a Port Power finals game.

“A rare form of torture for a Crows fan,” he wrote. “I’m still recovering.”

Edwina Bartholomew, Natalie Barr, Samantha Armytage, David Koch, Mark Beretta, Sam Mac. Picture: Seven Network

Mac said Natalie Barr, who replaced Armytage as host after years reading news on the show, was “unbelievably calm under the most intense pressure” while stating sports presenter Mark ‘Beretts’ Beretta was “unquestionably one of the nicest blokes in television”.

“Which is why it amuses me to joke about you having a sinister dungeon installed beneath your house,” he mused. “Obviously it’s not true. Although I've never officially checked. I’ve learnt so much from you, mate, but mainly how to charge a higher rate for MC gigs.”