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Mel Doyle reveals 'big shock' for Sam Armytage after Sunrise exit
Mel Doyle has weighed in on Samantha Armytage's unexpected announcement that she will be leaving Sunrise, revealing the biggest plus in store for the newly-married journalist.
Mel co-hosted Sunrise for over ten years alongside David 'Kochie' Koch joining in 2002 and departing in 2013.
She says for her, and for Sam, the very best thing about leaving brekkie TV is not the sleep in, but the late nights.
Speaking on Nova's Fitzy & Wippa this morning, Mel told them she loved the opportunity to have a normal weeknight routine after leaving the program.
"For me, it was the nights, it was having my nights back," Mel told the radio duo and their co-host Sarah. "It was not having to eat dinner at 5pm and go to bed at 7:30, I could watch TV at like 8pm!”
“So that will be a big shock for Sam on Friday won’t it?” Fitzy asked.
“Oh my goodness, it will probably take a little while to get out of the rhythm, as you guys know it’s a pretty tough gig getting up," Mel replied.
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She also artfully dodged questions around whether she would be returning to the Sunrise couch to take over for Sam.
"Would you go back?" Sarah asked her. "I mean there’s an empty seat.”
"So you’ve said yes to the gig?” Wippa joked.
“The way I’m looking at it if I had a dollar for every time I’m asked that this week I’m gonna be so rich!” Mel laughed.
Samantha Armytage shocked Sunrise viewers on Monday morning when she announced that she's leaving the popular breakfast program after eight years.
A teary Sam, 44, revealed it was time for the 'sun to set' on her time as co-host on the top-rating show, explaining that she wanted to 'take a break'' and find some 'peace and calm'.
Who will replace Sam Armytage?
After the surprise news sunk in, the next big question on everyone's lips was who would replace Sam next to Kochie on the couch?
Straight out of the gate, Aussie TV commentator Rob McKnight tipped Sunrise news presenter Natalie Barr, 52, to step into Sam's shoes.
"Trusted sources tell TV Blackbox Sam is set to be replaced by Natalie Barr who will be celebrating 20 years with the program in 2023," he claimed.
Over on social media, several other names were being tossed around as potential replacements for outgoing co-host Sam, among them Monique Wright, host of Weekend Sunrise, Edwina Bartholomew, Sunrise entertainment presenter and Sarah Harris, co-host of Studio 10.
Channel 7 has yet to confirm Sam's successor.
Additional reporting by Gillian Wolski.
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