Natalie Barr says taking over Sunrise has been ‘nightmarish’

Taking over as host of Sunrise after Samantha Armytage hasn’t been the easiest transition for Natalie Barr, calling it “nightmarish”.

She recently took over Samantha Armytage’s role of hosting Sunrise, but it hasn’t been the easiest transition for Natalie Barr.

On Tuesday, the former newsreader told TV Blackbox that hosting the show is “a bit nightmarish”.

The 52-year-old explained that she wasn’t loving being in the spotlight following Sam’s exit from the show, saying she can't wait to get back to the “new normal” of hosting the breakfast show.

Natalie Barr doesn’t love being in the spotlight. Picture: Channel 7

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“That’s my natural habitat,” the mother-of-two said. “I love covering the news, I love going out to these stories. But the attention on me is not my natural habitat.

“Yesterday, the first day, was probably a bit nightmarish for me because everyone kept asking ‘How are you, how are you going, what’s it like, first day …’.

“I just wanted to go back to the new normal, where we’ll actually be covering the news, and the events and the great interviews that we do – not me!”

The star also revealed how she received the life-changing news about the promotion.

“When the big boss called and asked, it was still nerve-racking and I did have to think – this is a lot more attention, a lot more pressure.

“I got a phone call from a big boss at Seven, and he said, ‘How about it?’

“I said well … uh! OK! I wasn’t very eloquent, and it wasn’t my finest moment I guess!”

Sam tearfully announced her resignation last week.

Samantha Armytage left Sunrise last week. Picture: Channel 7

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“The time has come for the sun to set on my time at Sunrise. I have always been brave and fearless in my career and this decision is no different,” she said.

Following her wedding to Richard Lavender, Sam revealed that she wanted to step away from the spotlight after a “bittersweet” year.

“As many of you know, the last six months of my personal life have been very bittersweet. Some bits have been very happy, and some bits have been very, very sad,’ she said during the show.

“I want to step out of this public world for a while and take some time and calm things down, enjoy a bit of slow living, and spend some time with my precious family, my husband and [dog] Banjo.”