Natalie Barr, Lisa Wilkinson lead well-wises after David Koch announces Sunrise departure

Former Today show host Lisa Wilkinson has led well-wishes to Kochie on social media, after their brekky shows went head-to-head for years.

Stars of Australia’s entertainment industry have paid tribute to David Koch after he quit as host of Sunrise.

The 67-year-old veteran TV presenter, who helmed the Channel 7 show for 21 years, announced his decision to step down as host on-air Monday morning.

Following his announcement, Koch’s former breakfast TV rival, ex Today co-host Lisa Wilkinson, led well-wishes

“Huge congrats to @kochie_online on a stellar 21yrs on @sunriseon7,” tweeted Wilkinson, who previously hosted rival breakfast show Today before deflecting to Network 10’s The Project in 2018.

“I was lucky enough to work with Kochie in my early brekky TV years & he really is all class. His generosity on & off camera continuing long after I left to join @TheTodayShow

Enjoy those sleep-ins Kochie.”

At the Logies in 2017 – Today vs. Sunrise - with Lisa Wilkinson, David Koch, Sam Armytage and Karl Stefanovic.

Meanwhile, Natalie Barr became emotional on Sunrise this morning.

Barr held back tears as Koch shared his news with viewers, tearing up as he told them it was time for new adventures.

“I have decided to hang up the boots as co-host of Sunrise. After nearly 21 years and over 5300 shows …” Koch trailed off after spotting Barr getting emotional behind the scenes. “Nat, stop it.”

Later in the program, Barr explained she got emotional as she and Koch have worked together on Seven’s nationally syndicated morning show for 20 years.

Sunrise host David Koch announces he is quitting Sunrise after 21 years. Picture: Media-mode.com

Natalie Barr struggles to hold back her tears on the show. Picture: Media-mode.com

“The show would not be what it is today without you. It’s been an amazing ride and we’re going to celebrate that in the next two weeks,” Barr said on air, referring to Koch’s last day next Friday on June 9.

“It was not just me who was crying – it was so you as well. Don’t blame it on me. It was you as well. Don’t blame it all on me.”

Koch admitted his children were all betting on him crying on live TV.

Barr was announced as Koch’s co-host in 2022. Picture: Seven

“I was going so well until I saw Nat in the distance behind the camera and that’s what,” he said. “It’s been a very special relationship. Lots to celebrate in the next two weeks.”

“The kids on WhatsApp are saying I have to pay up on the bet even though I blame you being on the background.”

Playful banter between the pair developed when they started working together on Sunrise in 2003 – Koch started as co-host in 2002 alongside Melissa Doyle, and Barr became Sunrise newsreader in 2003.

In 2021, when Doyle’s successor Samantha Armytage left the show after eight years, Barr was officially promoted to co-host in March 2022, taking her spot at the newsdesk next to Koch.

David Koch and Melissa Doyle hosted Sunrise when it first debuted in 2002.

“[It] is now time to work in business hours and have a bit of flexibility to focus more on our big family and the family business. And frankly, my football club as well,” Koch said in his announcement this morning.

“So after 20 consecutive premierships in the breakfast TV ratings game, I’m frankly finding it harder to get off the ground to take those marks and I think it’s time to bring to the next generation.

“I have loved every single minute of my time at Sunrise, and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved over the last 21 years.”

Samantha Armytage and David Koch hosted Sunrise together from 2013 to 2021. Picture: Regina King

Sunrise’s newsreader Edwina Bartholomew said it had been “the greatest pleasure” to work alongside Kochie for almost two decades.

“He is one-of-a-kind. Exactly the same on TV as he is off-air,” she wrote on Instagram.

“An incredible mentor to so many of us at @sunriseon7. My very first job on the show was helping him locate a suitably awful and vaguely appropriate ‘Joke of the Day.’”

“I will always look up to him (literally) as a broadcaster but mostly as a father and grandfather. Family is everything to Kochie, and it’s so wonderful he now gets to spend more time with Lib and the kids.”

Sunrise’s sports presenter Mark Beretta also sent his well wishes to Kochie in the comments section of his farewell post on Instagram.

Edwina Bartholomew and Mark Beretta thanked David Koch for being a role model. Picture: Seven

“Kochie, you have made an enormous contribution to changing the entire tone of breakfast TV for the better,” Beretta wrote

“Your generosity, honesty and care for others has made a massive impact on so many. I could never have wished for a better mentor and mate. Love you so much mate. Enjoy this new chapter and thanks so much for all you have given us over so many years.”

The show’s weatherman Sam Mac shared a screenshot of the text message the Sunrise host sent him on his very first day on the job in 2015.

“Mate, that was weather at its best. It was real, it connected with our heartland, it had charm. That street is the face Australia and we don’t see it enough. Great morning,” Koch wrote.

Sam Mac shares David Koch's first ever text to him. Picture: Sam Mac/Instagram

“This was my FIRST Day EVER on Sunrise!” Sam captioned the screenshot. “I didn’t even have the job yet. I was just some weird kid from The Project filling in on trial. I had no idea if I fitted in or if I’d bombed spectacularly.”

“The only piece of feedback I got that day was from the star of the show, Kochie! (he went to the trouble of finding my number). It may seem like a simple gesture, but in the cutthroat biz of TV, this level of support & kindness is surprisingly rare.

“That message meant so much to me, and tells you everything about Kochie’s character.”