Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies notch up 14 years as hosts of Seven’s The Morning Show

Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies didn’t think they’d last as hosts of Seven’s Morning Show — and there’s one thing he couldn’t do at the start of their TV stint.

Notching up 14 years in any job is a remarkable achievement. In television, it’s a modern-day miracle.

As Seven’s The Morning Show co-hosts Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies recall that first day on set, they joked they didn’t expect to survive three months.

“I didn’t even fully commit Kylie’s name to memory until about the six-month mark,” Emdur says, tongue firmly planted in his cheek.

“What was I then – audition girl No. 5?,” Gillies interjects, adding that she was horribly nervous, tinged with a little excitement.

“I hung on to Larry real tight and I’ve never really let go.”

Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies in the early years. Picture: Supplied

The Morning Show, Larry and Kylie celebrate 14 years being on the air together. Picture: Supplied to Network News.

Both trained journalists, Emdur came to the project as the gregarious game-show guy, hitting it off instantly with Kylie, with her more serious sportscaster and news presenter background.

Fourteen years on, what’s their favourite thing about working with each other?

“I always like to let Kylie go first with this question because that very much tempers my answer,” Emdur jokes.

Gillies says “It’s easy and a respectful relationship. And I think that comes across to viewers watching.”

Emdur: “I don’t want people to misunderstand that Kylie is saying that I’m easy. That’s not actually what she is saying. She’s saying the relationship is easy. But seriously, with these sort of hours on live television, you can’t fake it. We are very much reliant on each other to get us through the fun and the not-so fun interviews. Easy is the right word – we’re always there for each other.”

The Hoff on the coach with Kylie Gillies and Larry Emdur of The Morning Show at Bondi Beach. Picture: Supplied

While there’s plenty of jokes, the show’s rating figures are no laughing matter – well, for their rivals at least.

From that very first day, Seven’s morning show has remained Australia’s No. 1 and this year has won every ratings week.

To celebrate their 14th year, Emdur and Gillies will revisit TMS’ highs and lows — from the serious human drama of the Lindt Cafe siege which unfolded opposite their Martin Place studio, as they were live-to-air in 2014; to the more frivolous moments and flinchingly funny fashions over the years.

It’s usually lots of laughs on set for Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies. Picture: Supplied

They list interviews with singers Michael Bolton and Meat Loaf as among their most memorable chats.

“We think Michael was reading a text but for all intents and purposes, it looked like he was falling asleep,” Emdur says. “It went viral.”

While Gillies still cringes somewhat at the time she called the Bat Out of Hell singer simply Meat. “I didn’t know if I should call him Mr Loaf, but I felt that the interview was going so well that we could slip straight into Meat,” she says.

While they’ve chatted with a plethora of Hollywood stars, there’s still a few on the wishlist.

“I feel like I should go some great political person or human rights advocate, but Gwyneth Paltrow would be right up there,” Gillies says.

“Or Jennifer Aniston.”

Speaking of Aniston, did they watch her AppleTV+ series which famously had to be renamed Morning Wars for Australian audiences because of potential confusion with their own show?

“This is where we lie our head off and say ‘no’ when in fact we downloaded it faster than the NBN would allow and we can quote every word,” Gillies confesses.

Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies record The Morning Show from Conrad Jupiters.

The pair have claimed the mantle as the longest-running partnership on morning television. Can they take the record from 7NEWS Perth presenters Susannah Carr and Rick Ardon who have 35 years?

“Look, we’ve had let’s call it a really good five years,” Emdur says. “But seriously as long as it stays fun and we’re still getting on, I’m good for let’s say another six months.

“But, really what’s important is that we’ve managed to stay No. 1 since the day we started. We have a tremendous audience who’ve stuck with us through thick and thin.

“When Kylie and I are sitting together in our nursing home, we’ll be watching a show like this.”

THE MORNING SHOW, WEEKDAYS, 9AM, SEVEN