Sunrise has capped-off its 15th year with the news it’s on top of the breakfast TV ratings once again.
And that may have something to do with some very dramatic TV moments.
Throughout the year there have been several explosive on-air arguments between the show’s stars Samantha Armytage, David Koch and Natalie Barr, making for some compelling viewing.
Explosive on-air arguments, ‘in house fiery feuds’ and Kochie being told to ‘shut-up’: Inside the biggest blow-ups between Samantha Armytage, David Koch and Natalie Barr on Sunrise
It all kicked off in June, when the panel became embroiled in a fiery argument after Sam appeared to criticise Amal Clooney’s pregnancy body.
Commenting on the lawyer and actor hubby George’s birth of twins the week prior, Sam scoffed: ‘Come on — I bet she’s already back to her pre-pregnancy weight.’
Mother-of-two Natalie Barr then quipped: ‘By lunch time!’ quickly drawing the ire of Kochie, who addressed his concerns on-air.
‘Now you girls. Give her a break,’ he told both women, ”You’re being nasty. No, I think she’ll be a lovely mother.’
Screwing up her face, Natalie insisted to Kochie that the pair were merely kidding around: ‘We’re not being nasty. We were joking!’
Just one day later, Natalie and Kochie went at it again, this time after she questioned the former accountant’s expertise on the housing market.
Compelling: Throughout the year there have been several explosive on-air arguments between the show’s stars Samantha Armytage, David Koch and Natalie Barr, making for some compelling viewing
‘Give her a break’: All was well until June, when the panel became embroiled in a fiery argument after Sam appeared to criticise Amal Clooney’s pregnancy body
‘You’re being nasty’: After Sam and Natalie Barr joked about how quickly Amal would get back to her goal weight, Kochie interjected: ‘Now you girls. Give her a break! You’re being nasty!’
After showing a series of figures and graphs, Natalie asked him: ‘One question. Do you know anyone who’s actually done that and actually put all that money away?’
A surprised Kochie responded that he did in fact have one mate who used this tactic, and some of his kid’s friends were renting despite owning investment homes.
But Natalie wasn’t convinced, arguing: ‘But they’re negatively geared … so in this market they’re losing money, in this climbing Sydney market.’
At it again: Just one day later, Natalie and Kochie went at it again, this time after she questioned the former accountant’s expertise on the housing market
‘No, no, no, only losing money on the cash,’ Kochie hit back.
‘Trust me, Nat, I actually know a bit about this. I know about this, I’ve done all the calculations, you can throw all the hand grenades you like, but it works.’
‘I’m just checking, because it’s a climbing Sydney market, so would they have lost money in this market? Who loses money in this last five years in Sydney in the property market?’ Natalie responded.
Not giving up, Kochie countered: ‘Last month. Last month. What about Perth? What about Perth? You’re not going to win, sorry, Nat.’
As Natalie appeared to be thinking up a comeback, Samantha brought her colleagues’ attention back to the news headlines by interjecting: ‘Stop it you two!’
A fortnight later, an argument broke out once again, this time during a heated segment about how men and women view domestic duties differently.
‘We’re not lazy, we’re too busy doing the mowing,’ said panelist Ben Davis prompting Kochie to interject: ‘And the ironing.’
It’s a chore! A fortnight later, an argument broke out once again, this time after Kochie made light of a segment about how men and women view domestic duties differently
Clearly unimpressed, Sam shot back: ‘Oh shut up Kochie.’
Moments later, Kochie was still in shock saying: ‘Did you just tell me to shut up? It’s like being at home. I come to work and it’s like being at home.’
The feuds weren’t just confined to the panel either, with Sam making global headlines for a fiery interview with American comedian Kathy Griffin.
‘Shut up Kochie’: Sam shot back: ‘Oh shut up Kochie,’ leaving her co-host shocked, replying: Did you just tell me to shut up? I come to work and it’s like being at home’
It started during a promotional appearance on Sunrise, in which Kathy called Sam ‘full of crap’ for criticising her infamous ‘Donald Trump’s severed head’ image.
‘I’m in trouble, according to you Sam, way to take my back girl,’ Griffin said towards the end of the long, awkward argument.
‘I’m a journalist Kathy I’m here to ask you questions,’ Armytage said, while also explaining she was ‘playing the devil’s advocate’.
The world is watching: The feuds weren’t just confined to the panel either, with Sam making global headlines for a fiery interview with American comedian Kathy Griffin
‘Full of crap’: It started during a promotional appearance on Sunrise, in which Kathy called Sam ‘full of crap’ for criticising her infamous ‘Donald Trump’s severed head’ image
‘I know your type, I’ve got your number Sam,’ Griffin replied, with the feud then going back and forwards for weeks.
Most recently, in September, Sam became locked in another on-air spat, this time over her love life.
The 41-year-old took a swipe at co-host Edwina Bartholomew, 34, and called her ‘smug’ after the engaged presenter tried to play matchmaker.
Love hurts! Most recently, in September, Sam became locked in another on-air spat, this time over her love life
‘All right, thanks Eddie. God, you’ve already become a smug married, trying to be a matchmaker,’ she snapped at Edwina’s attempt to find her a man.
‘You just worry about your own wedding,’ Samantha interjected, leaving her co-hosts somewhat silenced and then nervously laughing at the awkward exchange.
Meanwhile, earlier this year, Sam and David were forced to deny reports of an on-set feud.
The drama surfaced off the back of a Woman’s Day report, claiming ‘Kochie’ had spoken to the network and asked them to replace Sam with Edwina Bartholomew.
‘Smug’: The 41-year-old took a swipe at co-host Edwina Bartholomew, 34, and called her ‘smug’ after the engaged presenter tried to play matchmaker
‘You just worry about your own wedding’: ‘All right, thanks Eddie. God, you’ve already become a smug married, trying to be a matchmaker,’ she snapped at Edwina’s attempt to find her a man
‘There’s a whisper that Kochie (Koch) has gone to the top dogs and told them they need to really consider Sunrise’s Monday to Friday line-up,’ the magazine claimed.
The magazine alleged a source also claimed Kochie has struggled to bond with Sam like he did previous co-host Melissa Doyle.
Kochie denied the feud on Twitter: ‘Total fabrication. Fake News at its worst. Can I be any clearer. 13 years as Australia’s #1 at brekky…love working with team.’
Sam quickly followed suit on Instagram: ‘Must be a @sunriseon7 feud to take up several pages during the quiet-January-period (sic),’ she wrote.
‘Silly. Trash. Idiotic. Mindless. Bull****.’