David Koch on rumours of a feud with former Sunrise co-host Sam Armytage

David Koch has been ambushed live on-air over reports of a feud with his former Sunrise co-host, as he addressed the rumour for the first time.

David Koch has responded to rumours of a falling out with his former Sunrise co-host, Samantha Armytage.

The 67-year-old breakfast TV veteran, who will be departing as host of the program after 21 years following his final show this Friday, sat down in studio for The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Wednesday morning, where the radio duo grilled him about reports of their strained relationship.

Armytage, who quit as host of Sunrise in March 2021, hosted a lavish farewell lunch at Sydney’s Catalina restaurant following her last show, which was attended by then Sunrise executive producer Michael Pell and Morning Show host Kylie Gillies, as well as several other close friends.

A notable absence, however, was Koch, who publicly claimed the following day he “didn’t know about it [happening].”

But speaking today, Koch told Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson he “didn’t think” he ended on “bad terms” with Armytage.

“No, I don’t think … We didn’t end on bad terms,” he said, before Henderson asked Koch whether they’d spoken since she quit Sunrise.

Kochie was grilled about his relationship with former Sunrise co-host, Sam Armytage.

While he didn’t answer the question directly, Koch offered, “Don’t forget she very publicly said she wanted to get out of media, and that scrutiny.”

He added, “She sent me a really nice note on the announcement [that Koch was leaving Sunrise]. As did Mel [Doyle].

“I think I’m seeing Sam tonight at a function. I saw Mel at Fashion Week and sat next to her there.”

Just prior to Armytage leaving her Sunrise gig, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that the “dynamic” between the co-hosts had reached an “all-time low”.

Sam and Kochie hosted the show for eight years. Picture: Sunrise on 7

Further, there were relentless reports about Armytage, 46, being estranged from Seven cast and crew. She repeatedly hit out at the media intrusion surrounding her private life at the time, and ultimately, cited it as a reason why she wanted to live a more quiet life with her husband Richard Lavender, whom she wed in December 2020.

“As many of you know, my personal life the last six months has been very bittersweet. Some bits have been very happy and some bits have been very, very sad and I want to step out of this public world for a while, take some time and calm things down, enjoy a bit of slow living and spend some time with my precious family and husband and [dog] Banjo,” she said on-air at the time.

On the surface, however, Armytage and Koch appeared to be getting along just fine, revealing they’d been celebrating her career in the Channel 7 office immediately after she signed off for the final time.

“We’d been drinking all through the morning,” Kochie said on KIIS FM at the time.

Kochie and Sam dominated the ratings over their Today ‘rivals’, Karl and Lisa. Picture: Samantha Armytage/Instagram

Meanwhile, Koch is stepping away from his hosting commitments to focus on his family and their marketing business, and will continue to appear on the show as an occasional guest in the coming months.

Former Olympic athlete Matt Shirvington was announced as his successor on Monday, and will join Natalie Barr as co-host from next week.

Shirvington said, “[It’s] just amazing. Daunted. So excited. Happy. I cannot tell you the honour and privilege this is, a huge job - and an exciting job.”

“You are absolutely perfect for us.... You’ve been filling in every Friday, it’s been sensational, you are going to be sensational,” Koch told him. “You are going to be the perfect fit.”

Originally published as David Koch on rumours of a feud with former Sunrise co-host Sam Armytage