Samantha Armytage makes Today show debut amid personal drama

Samantha Armytage has officially made her Channel Nine debut as co-host of the Today Show, where she's filling in over the summer break ahead of her 2025 roles at Channel Nine, including hosting The Golden Bachelor. She joined weather presenter Dan Anstey as the two took over from Weekend Today hosts David Campbell and Sylvia Jeffreys, who had been filling in for Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo.

Sam hosted morning show Sunrise on rival network Channel Seven for eight years from 2013 to 2021 and was quick to make a quip upon joining the Today Show. "I’ve remembered where I am, on Channel Nine. Isn’t it lovely to be on Channel Nine?” she said.

Channel Nine's 'crisis meetings'

The TV debut comes after an insider told Yahoo Lifestyle the truth about Samantha Armytage's future on Today after it was revealed she would temporarily be filling in for its hosts. A network source said: "Having Samantha back on breakfast is like a big F-you to Seven and Sunrise. The networks love getting one over each other and this won’t just annoy [bosses at] Seven but will ensure weeks of press reminding them that they lost their golden girl."

The insider added that having Samantha on-air for two weeks will also "remind viewers Nine is now her home" and "prepare them for what they’ve got planned in 2025" with The Golden Bachelor.

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Speculation was rife that Samantha's appointment had ruffled feathers at Channel Nine after Woman's Day reported there were "crisis meetings" about Samantha's role on Today. A source said, "There have been crisis meetings back to back since Sam was signed – the fact is the big bosses did not listen to the team when they objected to Sam coming on board."

They added, "Recently, when Sarah was going on leave, the big bosses apparently wanted Sam to be fill-in host with Karl. But when poor Sarah got wind of her replacement she was, according to colleagues, rightly upset. What followed was a huge push-back, and management bowed to Sarah, cancelling Sam, and instead putting Sylvia [Jeffreys] on as a safer option."

Yahoo Lifestyle understands that until The Golden Bachelor airs in the second half of 2025, Nine "will use" Samantha across the network to "increase her presence".

Samantha Armytage announces split from husband

Amid her career changes, Samantha recently announced she had split from her husband of four years, Richard Lavender. The pair wed on New Year's Eve 2020.

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The Daily Telegraph reports that the couple initially split up several months ago, and the former Sunrise presenter moved out of Richard's NSW Southern Highlands home and returned to Sydney, where she previously lived while working in breakfast TV.

"Yes, Richard and I have separated. All breakups are hard, but it’s somewhat lessened by the fact it’s amicable and we wish the best for each other," she told the publication. "I appreciate you respecting our privacy. I won’t be making any further comment."

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