Matt Doran reveals he is leaving Weekend Sunrise in emotional on-air announcement

The long-running Weekend Sunrise co-host has announced he is leaving the breakfast program next month.

Long-running Weekend Sunrise co-host Matt Doran has announced he is leaving the breakfast program next month.

In an emotional on-air statement made this morning, the Seven star revealed he has made the hard decision to depart his role to focus on his family and other opportunities.

“Before we go today, a bit of breaking news from the Doran household,” he said at the conclusion of Sunday’s edition of the show with co-host Monique Wright.

“I want to share with you a decision I’ve made, with my beautiful wife Kendall — and of course in earnest consultation with our beloved Italian greyhound Murphy — and that is, after five years at Weekend Sunrise, I will be finishing up at the end of the year.”

Matt Doran announced on-air that he will depart Weekend Sunrise at the end of the year.

Doran – who will present his final episode of Weekend Sunrise on Sunday, December 8 – said that he “agonised over” his decision because “this is one of the best jobs on earth”, but ultimately it’s “the right time - for our little family”.

“It is my unshakeable belief that this role – specifically, being entrusted with the telling of people’s most intimate, most personal stories – is one of the more privileged positions on the planet,” he continued.

“And actually, storytelling is probably at the heart of this decision – finding ways to tell stories that break the mould. I came to the Seven Network eight years ago with a background in crime and documentaries, and I’m being pulled back in that direction again now.”

Doran’s co-host Monique Wright was visibly upset over the news.

Wright shared some heartfelt words about her co-host and the time they’ve spent together on-air.

He then thanked the viewers for welcoming him into their households every weekend for the last five years he has been host.

“But I need to take a moment to emphatically and wholeheartedly thank you, our viewers, for allowing me into your loungerooms for the last half-decade,” he said. “What a monstrous honour to be afforded a few hours of your precious time on your precious weekends no less. That is one thing I have never, ever taken for granted.”

“When I say this, I am saying it from the very bottom of my heart – you have supported me, in ways I never imagined would be possible.”

The pair have hosted Weekend Sunrise together since 2019.

He then shared a tender moment with co-host Wright, with the pair exchanging a hug on camera, who shared some heartfelt words about their time together on-air.

“I’ve had the great joy of spending weekends over the past five years with a best friend,” she cried. “Matt is a brilliant broadcaster. His empathy, depth, warmth, fierce intelligence and humour is such an extraordinary combination, and I feel honoured to have got to work alongside him for as long as I have.

“Our friendship and laughs will continue off screen and while I’ll miss him terribly at work, I’m so happy for Matt and [wife] Kenny and for them to now enjoy their much-deserved weekends together!”

Doran joined Seven in 2017 as a correspondent for Sunday Night. Two years later, he took the reins as co-host of Weekend Sunrise alongside Wright.