David Koch reveals he almost quit as Sunrise host in the past

David Koch has revealed he had prior plans to hang up his boots on Sunrise, before Seven’s desperate bid to get him to stay longer.

David Koch was ready to leave Sunrise at the end of 2022.

It’s the end of an era as David Koch officially calls time on his two-decade breakfast TV gig.

The Sunrise co-host, 67, announced on Monday he was quitting after his final show on June 9, saying it was “now time to work in business hours” and “focus on our big family”.

It’s something the breakfast TV stalwart has been considering for some time, with Koch telling news.com.au he was actually ready to hang up his boots at the end of 2022.

“I’ve got too much pride in what we’ve achieved and too much gratitude to be part of it to just simply walk away, [but] I was very happy to leave at the end of last year,” he said.

“We talked about it internally – Seven have been just terrific – and we talked about it, and we came to an agreement that I would work through to June, and then sort of still be connected to the network for another 18 months.”

David Koch ‘Kochie’ announcing his retirement on Channel 7’s Sunrise this morning. Picture: Supplied

Koch signed a new, two-year deal with Seven around the same time as those talks, and will continue to feature on Sunrise as a guest, rather than host.

The finance guru also confirmed his co-host, Natalie Barr, had known about his decision to leave “for quite a while”.

As for who his replacement will be, it’s understood Seven will announce a new host on Monday.

Matt Shirvington and Matt Doran are the frontrunners to step in, while Dr Chris Brown’s name has also been flagged after he recently signed with Channel 7.

Koch, who is chairman of the Port Adelaide Football Club, said he had been involved in discussions, but refrained from dropping names.

“I’ve spoken to the list managers and I’ll leave it up with them,” Koch said, using a sport term to describe the process.

“The AFL clubs have list managers where they put the team together. So I will leave it to them to work out who will fit in, but it’s time to bring a new generation through to the midfield.”

The end of an era … Kochie quits as Sunrise co-host. Picture: Channel 7

As for the highlights (how does one pick a highlight after 21 years on air?) for Koch, it’s the little things that hit his heart hardest.

“Maybe this is because I’m a bit of a sucker, but I have young girls come up to me in the street and say, ‘I grew up in a single parent household, it was Mum and me and you were my de facto Dad.’

“It makes me feel really old, but it’s just so lovely. That sort of stuff is what makes Sunrise really special.

“Yes, we all have faults. I’ve stuffed up and people love me or hate me, but what they see is what they get, and I think they respect that even if they disagree with your views.

“It’s a really intimate relationship with the viewers.”

Koch and his wife of over 30 years, Libby, have four children and eight grandchildren, and his family was the key force in his decision to step down.

“I’m starting to get emotional,” he said, when presented with a question about plans for his final show in two weeks.

“My kids have been a big part of this. I don’t know what’s planned [for his final show], but they’re going to be part of it.

“We’re a really close family, and that’s what I hold dear.

“They keep me connected and grounded outside of the television bubble, which I am eternally grateful for.”

Originally published as David Koch reveals he almost quit as Sunrise host in the past