Samantha Armytage finally reveals real reason she left Sunrise

Samantha Armytage has finally revealed why she made the shock decision to leave Sunrise earlier this year.

While it was widely believed that the former breakfast TV host left to settle down with her new husband Richard Lavender, Samantha has now made a completely different claim.

The 44-year-old explained her decision on her podcast Something To Talk About with shock jock Kyle Sandilands as her guest.

When asked by Kyle about why she chose to leave after eight years, Samantha said she was over being critiqued by the media.

“There were many, many reasons,” she started. “But one of the reasons was that I thought the fun wasn’t there anymore.”

Samantha claimed she was the "lightning rod for the show at that point" and anything she said "was analysed and I was getting belted to death" in the media.

“You just think, ‘Is life worth this?’," she added.

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Samantha also insisted that her decision had nothing to do with her relationship with equestrian businessman Richard Lavender, who she married in December last year.

“It was year three of the relationship by the time I stepped out of Sunrise,” she said on her podcast.

Samantha shocked fans with her tearful announcement live on-air back in March: “The time has come for the sun to set on my time at Sunrise. I have always been very brave and fearless in my life and my career and this decision is no different.”

Longtime co-star Natalie Barr has since stepped up to co-host the Channel 7 breakfast show alongside David ‘Kochie’ Koch.

In a statement at the time, Channel 7 said that Samantha will remain a part of the network with upcoming projects.

“We wish Sam nothing but the very best for her break and look forward to announcing some exciting new projects for her in late 2021 and into 2022,” Seven West Media managing director and chief executive officer James Warburton said.

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