Following her sensational comments around Sunrise and former colleague Natalie Barr, one couldn’t blame Samantha Armytage for wanting to steer clear of the Seven offices when it comes to finding future work.
And eager to avoid any potential tension and awkwardness with her former team, insiders say Sam, 44, is now turning to a very unlikely lifeline for new opportunities – former breakfast show rival Karl Stefanovic.
“Sam’s been plotting her TV comeback for months, but she’s conscious of where her best chances are these days,” a well-placed industry source tells Woman’s Day.
“With everything that happened after she left Seven, she’s had to change her game plan, but that has been a blessing in disguise as she now has her good friend Karl to call on. I hear they’re planning a show to end all shows.”
While the pairing may leave many scratching their heads, our source reveals that Karl, 46, believes that together they could be the next dynamic duo on TV screens around the country.
“He’s aware of just how much noise a project featuring them as hosts would make – not to mention he’s missing the controversy and the ratings he used to generate – so he can see this really working,” says our source.
Sam and Karl’s secret business meetings have caused speculation that Sam could join Today if Allison Langdon, 42, ever decided to go back to 60 Minutes.
However, our source says the duo are conjuring up something else entirely – and it could cause a splash!
“They’re planning to pitch an evening program to Nine,” says the source.
“They both want to go head-to-head with Seven’s The Latest – it would be Monday through Thursday, a one-hour format, which will see Sam free to head up to her country retreat for the other half of the week.
“And Karl is so convinced of their plan, he’s ready to do whatever it takes to get it off the ground.”
One person who is all for his new venture is wife Jasmine Yarbrough. Along with striking up a “really nice friendship” with Sam in recent months, the 37-year-old mum also believes a nightly news program might better suit her and Karl’s lifestyle with 14-month-old daughter Harper, according to a source.
Just last week, Sam sent tongues wagging when she commented on Jasmine’s post during the Stefanovics’ trip to the Southern Highlands.
“You guys should have dropped in,” Sam posted.