David Koch embraces his Sunrise colleagues as he announces his shock resignation after 21 years

Sunrise host David ‘Kochie’ Koch stunned his colleagues on Monday when he announced his resignation from the hit breakfast show after 21 years.

And behind the scenes photos show his co-hosts Natalie Barr, Edwina Bartholomew and Mark Beretta overcome with emotion in between breaks in filming. 

A tissue box was passed around the Sunrise crew as they tearfully embraced their beloved co-star.  

Meanwhile, The Morning Show host Kylie Gillies, 55, looked absolutely devastated as she walked onto the set and hugged her Seven colleague and best mate. 

Edwina then stood up and gave Kochie a huge hug while the INXS ballad Never Tear Us Apart played in the background.

The Morning Show host Kylie Gillies, 55, looked absolutely devastated as she walked onto the set and hugged her best Seven colleague and best mate 

Kochie stunned his colleagues on Monday when he announced his resignation from the hit breakfast show after 21 years

During his on air announcement, Natalie looked heartbroken when Kochie said he had spent more time with her over the past few years than with members of his own family.

He said he was leaving the hit show to focus on his own businesses and to enjoy more flexible work hours to spend time with his growing family.

‘It’s time for me to work business hours and for [wife] Libby and I to have a bit more flexibility to enjoy our burgeoning family, to travel and focus on our family business interests in Pinstripe Media and the Ausbiz business channel,’ he told viewers. 

Natalie was seen wiping away tears as , Edwina Bartholomew (left) and Mark Beretta (right) were so overcome by emotion

Natalie shared a group hug with Kochie and his wife Libby following the show 

‘As everyone knows, I’m a finance nerd so you’ll still see me pop up every so often on RBA board meeting days or covering other big financial news, but as a guest rather than host.’

Kochie struggled to hold back the tears during his goodbye speech.

‘I have loved every single minute of it and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved here over the last 21 years,’ Kochie told viewers. 

‘I started here before Facebook, before Instagram, before Twitter and iPhones. That’s how old I am.

‘I’ve been privileged to experience so many great adventures, to meet so many different people and to cover so many moments of history in the making’. 

During his on air announcement, Natalie looked heartbroken when Kochie said he had spent more time with her over the past few years than with members of his own family 

Natalie told her co-host: ‘The show would not be what it is today without you. It’s been an amazing ride and we’re going to celebrate that in the next two weeks.’

The host has been a familiar face on Australian television screens since 2002 when he started on the Sunrise desk. 

Kochie said he would miss working with the entire Sunrise team, but gave special shoutouts to Barr, other co-host Mark Beretta and producer Dave Walters. 

Fellow Seven presenter Larry Emdur visited the Sunrise set to say goodbye to Kochie

The longest-serving TV host in Australian history made the shock announcement, beside his emotional co-host Natalie

‘I have loved every single minute of it and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved here over the last 21 years,’ Kochie told viewers