Sam Mac opens up about new girlfriend, and Sunrise without Armytage

Sunrise weatherman Sam Mac has opened up in an exclusive interview about what the Channel 7 breakfast set is really like without Samantha Armytage. He also reveals life with his new flame.

Samantha “Sam” Armytage was at the helm of Sunrise for almost eight years and her colleague and friend, Sam Mac, has revealed that her decision to leave the show sent shockwaves through the team.

“Sam leaving had a big impact,” Mac tells Stellar On Friday.

“Sam Armytage leaving had a big impact.” (Picture: Daniel Nadel)

“We got along really well and had that similar dark, twisted sense of humour – some would say we’re in need of psychological assistance. It’s a big change but at the same time, Nat [Barr] has been doing the show longer than anyone, except Kochie, so the Sunrise viewers already know and love Nat.”

Mac – full name Sam McMillan – has been the weather presenter on the program for five years. And he still counts Armytage – who in March walked away from the show she co-hosted with David Koch to spend more time with husband Richard Lavender – as a friend.

The two have stayed in touch and Mac gives Armytage, who now hosts a weekly podcast for Stellar magazine called Something To Talk About, a shout-out in his new book, Accidental Weatherman.

He also dedicated a chapter of the book to his beloved cat Coco, and opens up to Stellar On Friday about his relationship with his new girlfriend, Melbourne fashion stylist Rebecca James. After being introduced by friends online, the two met in November last year and have been dating ever since.

Find more exclusives in this Sunday’s Stellar.

“Bec is very, very calm. My work and my life is 100 miles an hour, getting on flights, driving, recording the show, recording a podcast. There’s a real warmth about her. She’s down-to-earth and so caring, generous and sweet. We’re seeing each other almost every week,

and it’s working really well,” Mac says.

Although, he quips, there is a caveat: “The only thing is she’s not normally a cat person.”

Originally published as Sam Mac opens up about new girlfriend, and Sunrise without Armytage