It’s official: Samantha Armytage is leaving Sunrise to find some “peace and calm.”
“I want to take a break and find some peace and calm. 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,” the co-anchor, who has helmed the show alongside David Koch for the past eight years, explained live on air this morning.
While Sam’s is leaving her seat on Sunrise, she won’t be departing the network all together with an official statement confirming “new projects” are in the works.
“She will remain a valued part of the network, with new projects to be announced at a later stage,” the statement said.
Entertainment reporter Peter Ford also confirmed on Channel Seven’s The Morning Show Sam is “not going anywhere else. [She] still has a deal with the Seven network and other projects down the track.”
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So what could those projects be? From podcasts to politics, we take a look at what Samantha Armytage will do next in her career…
Continue to work on her podcast to help launch a career in radio
As a weekly columnist for the Sunday Telegraph‘s Stellar, the journalist has amassed a whole new legion of fans with her witty and wise musings on work, life and love.
Most recently, Sam launched her very own podcast with Newscorp called Something To Talk About with the debut episode featuring an exclusive interview with actor Hugh Sheridan.
With her podcast up and running, many believe she’s ready to channel all her efforts into that.
According to a source speaking to Woman’s Day, the podcast could also be serving as a vocal warm-up for her attempt at securing a highly coveted seat on radio.
“She’s made no secret she fancies taking over from Deb Knight at 2GB,” the insider revealed.
Write another book
In 2014, Sam published her first book titled Shine: Making the Most of Life Without Losing Yourself.
“It reflects on some of the challenges I’ve faced breaking through the glass ceiling and keeping my feet on the ground while retaining the values my parents instilled in me,” she explained at the time.
Seven years later, Sam has packed so much more into her personal life and career which would no doubt make for a gripping read.
There’s no doubt a tell-all on what really went down behind-the-scenes on Sunrise would be a best-seller.
If Sam were to pen a tell-all book about her time on Sunrise it would no doubt be an overnight best-seller.
(Image: Getty)Embrace the quiet country life with her husband
In her tearful address on Sunrise this morning, Sam explained that after a gruelling eight years co-anchoring Sunrise she was ready to spend some quality time with her new husband Richard Lavender and her loved ones.
Following the death of her beloved mother Libby last year, Sam says the time is right to walk away from her high profile role and focus on family.
“I want to step out of this public world for a while and take some time to calm things down, enjoy a bit of slow living and spend some time with my precious family and my husband and [her pet dog] Banjo,” the 44-year-old explained.
Indeed when Sam isn’t working, her sanctuary is her sprawling $2.2 million, five bedroom country retreat in Bowral on NSW Southern Highlands.
Her partner Richard Lavender is also a fan of the Southern Highlands – he owns his own property there too so we have no doubt the couple will be spending some much needed downtime there together in the coming months.
“I’ll put the kettle on, come and see me in the country,” Sam joked to her co-hosts this morning.
Sam and Richard, who tied the knot on NYE last year, both have sprawling properties in the Southern Highlands.
(Image: Instagram)Samantha Armytage MP?
She’s smart, well spoken and not afraid to voice her opinion – all must-have skills for any budding politicians.
And as Woman’s Day reported last year, Sam could be setting her sights to a career in politics.
“Sam is making all the right moves for a shift into politics,” an insider explained to Woman’s Day in October.
“She’s particularly passionate about the bush, and a natural progression for her now would be a move into local council as a member and take the steady climb up the ladder – maybe all the way to Canberra!”
The source pointed out Sam’s passionate on-air rants to politicians recently gained lots of attention.
“It’s almost testing the waters to see what she can get away with and who will follow her,” they noted.
“She’s stood up to pollies for years, questioning their actions,” added the insider, who said she took on former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joycecin 2019 over help for farmers and grilled Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk about her strict border restrictions.
“It’s becoming clear Sam has what it takes,” the source continued.
“She loves her local Southern Highlands community and would do anything to help the locals,” said the source, adding that Sam could run for MP near where she and husband Richard Lavender share a home.
Watch this space because this won’t be the last we hear from the supremely talented Sam!
Sam is passionate about her local community.
(Image: Getty)