David Koch quits Sunrise as frontrunner to replace him revealed

David Koch has stepped down as co-host of Sunrise after 20 years, and the rumour mill is in overdrive about who will step up to the job.

With news of David Koch leaving Sunrise after 20 years on-air, attention has swiftly turned to who will replace him.

The veteran Channel 7 presenter announced he was quitting the breakfast program on-air on Monday morning, saying it was “now time to work in business hours” and “focus on our big family”.

His last show will be June 9.

David Koch quit Sunrise on Monday morning. Picture: Channel 7

Many are speculating that one possible replacement for Koch, 67, could be former Ten personality Dr Chris Brown, who signed a two-year contract with Seven in February believed to be worth a whopping $1 million a year.

The network is yet to announce plans for Brown, 44, with people on social media believing he could be tapped for the gig.

In a statement after announcing his new contract, Brown said he would be starting “in the second half of the year and beyond with Seven”, while a network spokesperson confirmed he was officially commencing work “in July”.

Kochie finishes in 2 weeks… earlier in the year Ch 7 announced Dr. Chris would join the network in July.

You’re welcome. pic.twitter.com/ARtJkHAqoS

— Leon Sjogren (@Leonsjogren) May 28, 2023

Huge news! Staple of breakfast TV for 21 years. Rumour is that Dr Chris Brown may replace him in two weeks time https://t.co/x2vypEPFll

— Brad Elias (@auspOpBrad) May 28, 2023

While Brown is the hot candidate on Twitter, it’s more likely Seven would lean on former athlete Matt Shirvington, who joined the network in 2020 as a sport presenter for Seven News Sydney.

Shirvington’s commitments have stepped up in the years since, with the presenter regularly stepping in as fill-in host and sports presenter for Sunrise through the week and on weekends, as well as the mid-morning program The Morning Show.

Matt Shirvington could also replace Kochie. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Another option is journalist Matt Doran, who currently co-hosts Weekend Sunrise.

Doran has been with Seven Network since 2017, where he started as a reporter on Sunday Night.

He joined the weekend breakfast show in late 2019, and has often filled in for Koch during the week.

Matt Doran is another option. Picture: Sunrise

If Brown were to be picked, it would be a major promotion following his departure from Ten.

The personality had been with Channel 10 since 2008 with his popular program, Bondi Vet.

More recently, he co-hosted I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! and starred on The Living Room, which was “rested” this year.

Brown was understood to be frustrated with the lack of opportunities on offer to him at Ten, particularly after The Living Room stopped production.

Dr Chris Brown signed a lucrative contract with Channel 7 in February.

“I think you’d have to check the TV dictionary,” he told The Daily Telegraph in December, referring to the show being on “hiatus”.

“The Oxford TV dictionary defines hiatus as cloudy with a chance of coming back but it is very unclear. Who knows what is happening.”

Meanwhile, speaking on-air this morning, Koch said he was “finding it harder” to continue in the role.

“I have decided to hang up the boots as co-host of Sunrise. After nearly 21 years and over 5300 shows, 16,000 hours of TV, 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 is chairman of the Port Adelaide Football Club.)

“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 [in] the next generation.”

Originally published as David Koch quits Sunrise as frontrunner to replace him revealed