Andrew O’Keefe has announced that he’s leaving Weekend Sunrise after 12 years.
The 46-year-old co-host of the show made the shock announcement on Friday.
The father-of-three revealed that he’s leaving the gig to spend more time with his family.
‘It’s time to give the weekends back to my real family’: Andrew O’Keefe announces he’s leaving Weekend Sunrise after 12 years
‘As much as I love my Weekend Sunrise family to bits, I think it’s time to give the weekends back to my real family,’ Andrew said in an official statement.
‘There are many overdue camping trips and too many unseen soccer matches to catch up on.
‘So, to all the beautiful people with whom it’s been my profound pleasure to work, and to all the viewers who’ve been our friends for so long, thank you and adios.’
Family first: Andrew is pictured with his wife Eleanor
Doing his thing: Andrew is seen on the show
Andrew will still be hosting Seven’s quiz show, The Chase Australia.
‘See you at the much more civilized hour of 5pm,’ he said.
In the statement, Andrew gushed about colleagues, calling them ‘family’, but ‘without the inheritance squabbles or TV-remote blame.’
Sunrise executive producer Michael Pell returned the favour and said Andrew will always be ‘family.’
The former Deal or No Deal host has been on Weekend Sunrise since 2006.
He’ll be getting more sleep! Andrew will still be hosting Seven’s quiz show, The Chase Australia, and added: ‘See you at the much more civilized hour of 5pm’
He’s always been known for sharing his opinion on show, and in October, slammed a Sydney council’s plan to hold citizenship ceremonies during an indigenous celebration week instead of Australia Day.
Andrew, who One Nation leader Pauline Hanson accuses of being too left-wing, is skeptical of holding citizenship ceremonies during NAIDOC Week.
‘If you don’t feel an attachment to the British realm, because of your background, why’ve you got to feel an attachment to being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander?,’ Andrew said at the time.