Sunrise shocked by leadership spill during five countries in five days tour

“WE fly from Dubai to London and it was seven hours and when we landed we had a new Prime Minister,” Koch said.

Timing couldn’t have been worse for Sunrise

THE timing couldn’t have been worse for Sunrise’s whirlwind five countries in five days tour.

In the battle of the breakfast television shows, the leadership spill may have given rivals Today a free hit.

Malcolm Turnbull ousted Tony Abbott as Australian Prime Minister 54 votes to 45 on Monday night while the Sunrise team where mid-flight from Dubai to London.

Today’s Lisa Wilkinson and Karl Stefanovic were rushed to report live from Canberra an earlier time of 5am.

Stop 2 of 5! We're LIVE from London in a little over an hour #SunriseBritain @markberetta @sam_armytage pic.twitter.com/nhWSLUE8Am

— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) September 14, 2015

Meanwhile Sunrise’s David Koch, Samantha Armytage and news presenter Natalie Barr arrived in London with a schedule that included talking about viking poo, black cabs and The X Factor. The news of the new PM, took them completely by surprise.

“We fly from Dubai to London and it was seven hours and when we landed we had a new Prime Minister,” Koch said.

“How can Malcolm Turnbull do this when we are out of the country?” Armytage said. “He is a friend of Sunrise. He’s my local member.”

While Natalie Barr added: “It only takes seven hours to roll a PM.”

Gorgeous rainbow behind Parliament House this morning! #Libspill #Today9 pic.twitter.com/DZk8yT2Bv5

— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) September 14, 2015

Yet Sunrise went on with the show, throwing in crosses back to reporters in Bondi and Canberra and including an interview with Pauline Hanson.

Sunrise did include an interview with Deputy Liberal Leader Julie Bishop but there were awkward delays courtesy of the long distance and exhaustion was clearly taking it’s toll on Koch and Armytage.

Over on Today, Karl Stefanovic was in Canberra looking Bishop in the eye and asking her tough questions.

Today then lined up interviews with Labor politicians Anthony Albanese and Tanya Plibersek.

Wilkinson posted a photo of a rainbow over Parliament House with the caption: “Can’t help wondering if our new PM organised this rainbow over Parliament House this morning. #auspol”.

She could just as well have been asking if it were for the Today team.

The Today Show were right where they needed to be.

Tomorrow’s breakfast television ratings will tell an interesting story. Social media is already claiming they know who will win today.

Cameron Adams tweeted “Karl Stefanovic grilling Julie Bishop live in Canberra, Sunrise detached from Australia in London. Today winning breakfast TV today.” “A rather unfortunate time for the Sunrise show to be broadcasting from London as part of an around the world jaunt,” tweeted Michael Byrnes.

.@JulieBishopMP and @tanya_plibersek with @karlstefanovic and @Lisa_Wilkinson #Libspill #Today9 pic.twitter.com/ZZpYZYUSu1

— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) September 14, 2015

Andrew McLean tweeted “@kochie_online What no Lib poll tweets? Lisa from Today out-tweeted you.”

A Channel 7 spokesperson told news.com.au: “This morning Sunrise is in London. Tomorrow Sunrise is live from New York. We didn’t miss a beat.”

“This morning we had Julie Bishop, Jeff Kennett, Peter Beattie, John Hewson, Pauline Hanson. Heard from Turnbull with first comment live on air as he left home. Comprehensive coverage from Mark Riley and Tim Lester from our Canberra Bureau. More analysis from Tory Shepherd and Derryn Hinch.”