Today show anchor Allison Langdon couldn’t resist taking a swipe at departing Sunrise host Sam Armytage on Monday.
The 41-year-old, who returned to Nine’s breakfast show that morning after a month-long absence, subtly referenced Sam’s on-air resignation during the closing moments of the broadcast.
About an hour after Sam’s tearful farewell, the mother of two seemingly joked about the latest departure over at Channel Seven.
She went there! Today show anchor Allison Langdon (right, with Karl Stefanovic) couldn’t resist taking a swipe at departing Sunrise host Sam Armytage on Monday
‘Well, for now I’d just like to say I am leaving,’ she told co-anchor Karl Stefanovic.
‘Are you?’ a puzzled Karl asked, then Allison said she was just leaving ‘the studio’.
The panel burst into laughter and entertainment reporter Brooke Boney said: ‘Ally, that is spicy. That is so spicy.’
Sylvia Jeffreys, who was sitting at the Today Extra news desk with co-host David Campbell, added: ‘You’ve still got it, Ally.’
Sam’s departure will be quite satisfying for the Today show, which has been steadily closing the gap in the breakfast TV ratings war thanks to the partnership of Karl and Allison.
Cheeky dig: About an hour after Sam’s tearful farewell, Allison seemingly joked about the latest departure over at Channel Seven. Pictured (L-R): Sunrise hosts Natalie Barr, Sam Armytage, David ‘Kochie’ Koch and Mark Beretta
Joke: The 41-year-old subtly referenced Sam’s on-air resignation during the closing moments of the broadcast. ‘Well, for now I’d just like to say I am leaving,’ she told co-anchor Karl Stefanovic. ‘Are you?’ a puzzled Karl asked, then Allison said she was just leaving ‘the studio’
Dream team: Sam’s departure will be quite satisfying for the Today show, which has been closing the gap in the breakfast TV ratings war thanks to the partnership of Karl and Allison
Monday marked Allison’s return to the Today panel after injuring herself during a watersports segment on the Gold Coast on February 4.
She underwent surgery after hurting her knee ‘badly’ while hydrofoiling at Burleigh Heads, and took a month off work to recover at home.
Allison used a wheelchair and crutches while broadcasting Monday’s program.
Ordeal: Monday marked Allison’s return to the Today panel after injuring herself while filming a watersports segment on the Gold Coast on February 4
Recovery: She underwent knee surgery after hurting herself ‘badly’ while hydrofoiling at Burleigh Heads, and took a month off work to recover at home. Pictured with her children, Scout and Mack
‘You’re a trooper’: Allison used a wheelchair and crutches while broadcasting the program
However, her comeback was overshadowed by Sam’s on-air resignation over on Channel Seven’s Sunrise.
The 44-year-old, who joined the program in 2013, said: ‘The time has come for the sun to set on my time at Sunrise. I have always been brave and fearless in my career and this decision is no different.’
She explained she was leaving of her own choosing, and was looking forward to life away from the spotlight after a ‘bittersweet’ year that included the death of her mother, Libby, and her marriage to businessman Richard Lavender.
Sam’s last day will be Thursday.
Breaking news: Allison’s comeback was overshadowed by Sam’s shock on-air resignation over on Channel Seven’s Sunrise. The 44-year-old, who joined the program in 2013, said on Monday: ‘The time has come for the sun to set on my time at Sunrise. I have always been brave and fearless in my career and this decision is no different’
Her announcement follows months of rumours she was preparing to leave Sunrise in order to spend more time with Richard, 60, at his country estate in the NSW Southern Highlands.
While Seven has not yet announced Sam’s replacement, TV Blackbox reports newsreader Natalie Barr will be stepping in alongside co-anchor David ‘Kochie’ Koch.
Sam’s contract with Channel Seven was up for renewal this year, with celebrity accountant Anthony Bell said to be in charge of negotiations, but the exact date her deal expires is unknown.
‘As many of you know, the last six months of my personal life have been very bittersweet. Some bits have been very happy, and some bits have been very, very sad, and I want to step out of this public world for a while and take some time and calm things down, enjoy a bit of slow living, and spend some time with my precious family, my husband and [dog] Banjo,’ she said during the show on Monday.
‘I go out of this job at a time of my own choosing and on top of the ratings, which not many people on television can say they do.
‘I’m extremely proud of my almost eight years at the helm of Sunrise, my seven years before that at Weekend Sunrise, and my almost 18 years with the Seven Network.’
Time to say goodbye: Sam was comforted by her co-host David ‘Kochie’ Koch (right)
Supportive: Kochie said, ‘Ever since Sam joined Sunrise eight years ago, she has been the rock of the program and always led from the front’
Leaving: Sam was pictured leaving Seven’s studios in Martin Place after Monday’s broadcast
I’m outta here! She looked calm and composed as she drove herself home
What will the future hold? The presenter said she would be having an extended break before deciding what to do next
She added: ‘My mother used to say to me, “Edit your life frequently and ruthlessly. It is your masterpiece after all.” And that is precisely what I’m doing.
‘This is a chapter, not the whole story, and I have a few days left to say goodbye to you all for now. I’ve spoken with our chairman, Kerry Stokes, to whom I’m eternally grateful for employment and opportunities, as with our executive producer, Michael Pell, who put me in this job. Both men have given me their blessings and understand this decision.
‘I want to say a very big thank-you to the Sunrise production team, the entire crew, who get up so early every day and put this wonderful show together. It has been a pleasure working with you all. And thank you for having me in your lounge rooms all these years. Now it is time for me to spend a bit of time in my own lounge room.
‘And after I take a break, and only after I feel refreshed, will I decide on my next chapter. Thank you.’
Emotional moment: Newsreader Natalie Barr embraced Sam during her farewell address. Right: Sunrise sports reporter Mark Beretta
Replacement? While Seven has not yet announced Sam’s replacement, TV Blackbox reports newsreader Natalie Barr will be stepping in alongside co-anchor David ‘Kochie’ Koch
A Sunrise producer then rushed over with a box of tissues, and offered her a hug.
Her co-host Kochie said: ‘It’s been a big year, hasn’t it? You’ve got to put yourself first. We’re going to miss you so much. It’s not going to be the same. Eight years.’
Natalie offered: ‘You know when it’s time. We wish you well.’
Sam also said that one of the reasons she resigned was because she wanted to spend more time with her father, Mac.
Stepping away: Sam explained she was leaving of her own choosing, and was looking forward to life away from the spotlight after a ‘bittersweet’ year that included the death of her mother, Libby, and her marriage to businessman Richard Lavender (right)
After Sam’s on-air announcement, Kochie said in a statement: ‘Ever since Sam joined Sunrise eight years ago, she has been the rock of the program and always led from the front.
‘Sam’s humour, work ethic and team first values have been an inspiration to us all. But now it’s time for Sam to put herself and Rich first and we couldn’t be happier for, or more supportive of, them both.’
Seven West Media’s Chief Executive Officer, James Warburton, also said: ‘Sam has been an important part of the Seven team for almost two decades, including eight fantastic years as co-host of Australia’s number-one breakfast show.
‘We will be sad to see her leave Sunrise, but completely understand and support her decision to step back for a while and focus on her family.
‘We wish Sam nothing but the very best for her break and look forward to announcing some exciting new projects for her in late 2021 and into 2022.’
Parting ways: Sam said she was leaving Sunrise with the blessing of executive producer Michael Pell (centre)
Sam’s emotional farewell comes days after she said the TV industry was full of ‘narcissists and sociopaths’ – remarks which didn’t go down well with colleagues.
‘There’s a lot about television that’s all about you and that’s an awful way to live your life. TV isn’t a place that’s necessarily very healthy,’ she told Stellar magazine.
‘It’s full of sociopaths and narcissists. It can be a dangerous environment, let me tell you,’ she added.
She also said unmarried, childless women in television were treated differently and given more work compared to their married counterparts.
This comment in particular riled up Seven executives, with a source telling The Sydney Morning Herald: ‘Look at Natalie Barr. She regularly drops everything to cover a story with no complaints, and she’s got two teenage boys at home. Sam’s got a dog.’
Gossip: For months, it was rumoured that 2021 would be Sam’s last year hosting Sunrise. Speculation was rife she wanted to quit TV and focus on family life with Bowral businessman Richard Lavender, whom she married on New Year’s Eve (pictured on their wedding day)
Sad loss: The death of her mother, Libby (left), from an autoimmune disease in November had also made her rethink her priorities in life, sources said
For months, it was rumoured that 2021 would be Sam’s last year hosting Sunrise.
Speculation was rife she wanted to quit TV and focus on family life with Bowral businessman Richard, whom she married on New Year’s Eve.
The death of her mother, Libby, from an autoimmune disease in November had also made her rethink her priorities in life, sources said.
She had hinted at her resignation in an interview with The Kyle and Jackie O Show last month.
Daddy’s girl: Sam also said on Monday that one of the reasons she resigned was because she wanted to spend more time with her father, Mac (right)
Sam told hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson that while she was still under contract at Seven, she hadn’t ruled out giving up her TV career.
She said she was ‘very happy’ in her job but could ‘easily’ see herself embracing country life ‘down the track’.
Radio host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson observed: ‘I get the feeling, Sam, that you’re going to give this up next contract or something. Do you ever see yourself [retiring to the Southern Highlands]?’
Sam replied: ‘Oh yeah, I think down the track I could, easily.’
Considered decision: Sam (pictured with co-host Kochie) had hinted at her resignation in an interview with The Kyle and Jackie O Show last month. She said she was ‘very happy’ in her job but could ‘easily’ see herself embracing country life ‘down the track’
When asked if she would miss working in TV, Sam offered a thoughtful response.
‘I do wonder… there’s a lot of adrenaline in television. Anything that’s live there’s a lot of adrenaline. Sometimes I wonder… but by the same token you don’t want that adrenaline all the time,’ she said.
‘And you know, I’ve been a journo for 22 years. I’m very old.’
In December, Sam had furiously hit back at a report in a Nine-owned newspaper which claimed her position at Seven was ‘one of the biggest question marks of 2021’.
She denied she was leaving the network and accused the newspaper of doing a hatchet job on her because Sunrise had beaten Nine’s Today show in the ratings.
‘Good one, Channel Nine. If you can’t beat Sunrise in the ratings, invent a (bitchy) column for some Christmas “cheer”,’ she wrote on Instagram.
Denial: In December, Sam had furiously hit back at a report in a Nine-owned newspaper which claimed her position at Seven was ‘one of the biggest question marks of 2021’
Sam launched her career as a news reporter at WIN Television in Canberra in 1999.
She joined Sky News Australia as a chief political reporter in 2002, and jumped ship to Seven the following year, where she soon landed a presenting role on Seven News.
In 2006, Sam replaced Mike Amor as anchor of Seven’s Afternoon News. A year later, she replaced Lisa Wilkinson on Weekend Sunrise alongside Andrew O’Keefe.
She was announced as a co-host on Sunrise in 2013, replacing Melissa Doyle – who insisted she was ‘stepping down’ but was widely rumoured to have been sacked.
Outside of the Seven Network, she became a weekly columnist for News Corp’s Stellar magazine in 2017.
In February this year, Sam launched her podcast called Something to Talk About with Samantha Armytage, in partnership with Stellar.
Sam’s eight years with Sunrise saw her embroiled in a string of controversies.
Divisive: Sam’s eight years with Sunrise saw her embroiled in a string of controversies. Her most infamous moment came in March 2018, when she oversaw a panel debate about Aboriginal adoption, which ignited protests outside the studio (pictured)
In January 2014, she was accused of ‘offending strippers’ by joking about her new pair of ‘stripper heels’.
In March that year, U.S. reality star Khloé Kardashian abruptly ended her interview on Sunrise after Sam asked a question about her niece North West.
Twelve months later, Sam was accused of racism after appearing to congratulate a woman for looking whiter than her twin. She later apologised.
Her most infamous moment came in March 2018, when Sam oversaw a panel debate about Aboriginal adoption, which ignited protests outside the studio.
In June 2020, she was sued alongside commentator Prue MacSween for racial vilification over the discussion, which suggested a second stolen generation was needed to help Indigenous children.
Sunrise formally apologised for the segment in January this year.
Over and out: Sam manoeuvred around paparazzi as she drove out of Seven’s headquarters in Martin Place