Sunrise host Nelson Aspen responds to rumours he quit the Channel Seven show due to health reasons

Sunrise host Nelson Aspen responds to rumours he quit the Channel Seven show due to health reasons

Nelson Aspen has responded to rumours he quit Sunrise after 19 years on air due to health reasons.

An article published online has claimed the 59-year-old made a decision to leave the breakfast show due to illness.

‘For the record, NOT sick. But getting my cholesterol checked tomorrow after I see my trainer,’ he wrote on Instagram.

Sunrise host Nelson Aspen (pictured) responded to rumours he quit the Channel Seven show due to health reasons

Friday was Aspen’s last day on Sunrise, Australia’s most-watched breakfast show.

He revealed live on air earlier this month he was quitting the Channel Seven program after almost two decades.

He announced his resignation after delivering his morning showbusiness news bulletin live from New York City.

‘After 19 and a half years with Sunrise, I am giving you my two weeks’ notice,’ Aspen told Barr and co-host Michael Usher, who seemed surprised by the news.

An article published online has claimed the 59-year-old made a decision to leave the breakfast show due to illness

An article published online has claimed the 59-year-old made a decision to leave the breakfast show due to illness

'For the record, NOT sick. But getting my cholesterol checked tomorrow after I see my trainer,' he wrote on Instagram

‘For the record, NOT sick. But getting my cholesterol checked tomorrow after I see my trainer,’ he wrote on Instagram

He is leaving Sunrise to finish his new book, Your Home Is Your Castle.

‘I am going to go and finish up my new book… and I’ll be doing a book tour, a Q&A show that will include Australian cities,’ he said.

An upset Barr replied: ‘Nelson, it’s been a wonderful ride. We are going to miss you, but it’s not goodbye as we have two weeks to say that.’

Aspen has been a fixture of Sunrise for almost 20 years, reporting to a series of hosts including Barr, Samantha Armytage and Melissa Doyle.

He was based in Los Angeles when he first joined the team, and remained Sunrise’s ‘man in Hollywood’ even after moving to New York City.

Friday was Aspen's last day on Sunrise, Australia's most-watched breakfast show

Friday was Aspen’s last day on Sunrise, Australia’s most-watched breakfast show 

Aspen marked 15 years on Sunrise back in 2018, saying he was grateful for ‘having the opportunity to interview so many stars’.

‘Just having the experience of being a part of the Sunrise family and coming to Australia and meeting you guys and the fans… these are opportunities that are extraordinary,’ he added.

He was recently presented with the International Media Journalist of the Year award by the Publicists Guild of America in 2020, by none other than Jennifer Aniston. 

Throughout his career, Aspen has interviewed the likes of Julie Andrews, Harrison Ford and Rose Byrne, and has covered all the major awards for Sunrise, including the Oscars and Golden Globes.

Aspen has been a fixture of Sunrise for almost 20 years, reporting to a series of hosts including Barr, Samantha Armytage and Melissa Doyle (left)

Aspen has been a fixture of Sunrise for almost 20 years, reporting to a series of hosts including Barr, Samantha Armytage and Melissa Doyle (left)

Aspen was recently presented with the International Media Journalist of the Year award by the Publicists Guild of America in 2020, by none other than Jennifer Aniston (right)

Aspen was recently presented with the International Media Journalist of the Year award by the Publicists Guild of America in 2020, by none other than Jennifer Aniston (right)

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk