Sunrise's Kochie and Nat Barr break down live on-air during farewell: 'Scared'

Sunrise host David 'Kochie' Koch, along with his co-hosts, became emotional during his final show after 21 years at the helm of the program.

Kochie, the longest-serving breakfast TV host in Australia, announced two weeks ago that he would be moving on from the show to spend more time with his family and focus on his work in finance.

It was clear Kochie was emotional as soon as the show began and was seen wiping away tears as his colleagues paid tribute to his work.

The presenter and his co-host Nat Barr quickly descended into tears as he gave his last-ever interview on the show.

"Our last interview, well, this is it," Nat began, as Kochie begged, "Don't start me off!"

"I know, you're not dead yet," she joked. "21 years, happy 21st!

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

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"I'm a bit scared," he said, adding that it was "the right decision".

Kochie continued, "I'm just a bit scared that the... oh, you know, the loss, big part of your life. No, I've had, this has been, this has been my life. It's not just a job. I'm incredibly proud of it."

He shared a number of his proudest moments from the show, including broadcasting from Antarctica, doing the Kokoda Trail and more.

"I'm ready," he said. "I'm going to miss so much. But when I say I'll miss it, I've been able to experience it. I have enormous gratitude."

He added that it is "the world's best job".

"I have loved every minute of it. I will miss, you know, big breaking stories, and I will miss the adventures," Kochie said, adding of Nat, "And my life is getting up and sitting next to you, I'm going to miss that."

Edwina Bartholomew was also teary as she paid tribute, revealing she was just 20 when she first met Kochie as an intern on Sunrise.

"There is much to admire about you as a broadcaster, but mostly, it's how you have used your position of privilege, this incredible platform, to help so many people," she told him.

Nat's emotional tribute

The farewells continued as the show came to a close, with Nat becoming emotional once again.

Through tears, she said, "You have shown us all that a workplace, even a TV show, can have a heart and a soul, it is an incredible legacy and a proud foundation for the future of Sunrise.

"People ask me everywhere I go, every single day, 'What is Kochie really like?' He is emotional, more than you would think, he shows us that in the end, family is all that matters, because he lives for his... and Port Adelaide," she joked.

"Also, that it is important to take pride in what you do, whatever that is. He is a leader who is so proud of this show, that started off so very small and grew so big, but at its centre still maintains its heart.

"For the last 20 years, I have sat at that desk with him and watched as he gets to the core of an interview and cuts through all the PR and all the bull and I've learned so much. We have travelled across Australia and around the world and through thousands and thousands of hours of live television. We have laughed, and we have laughed and we have laughed, and we have cried quite a few times."

Nat continued, "What's he really like? He is one of the best friends I will ever have in my life. And I will treasure the years we have had on air. And I know there will be many more years together they will just look a little bit different. Congratulations."

Kochie also became emotional as he signed off for the last time, once again thanking his family and his Sunrise family.

"All I can say is, thank you," he told viewers as he pointed out all the people behind the scenes that make the show happen, thanking them for all their work as well.

'One heck of a ride'

Kochie's replacement, Olympian Matt Shirvington, was also a key focus of Friday's show.

Weatherman Sam Mac told the exiting host he had been helping pack the 67-year-old’s things before opening the door to his office to reveal the walls covered in pictures of Shirvington.

The camera then panned to a whiteboard with “Shirvo’s to-do list” on it.

His priorities as new host were listed as “get #shirvonator trending, get my name top billing, more sprinting highlights and do we need weather?”

Ahead of the 7 o’clock news, cameras followed Koch through hallways lined with Sunrise presenters, long-time producers and members of his family, as he ran towards the stage for the bulletin.

Koch was met with a red lipstick stain on his forehead from flamboyant German presenter Hans, and even made a cheeky snub of incoming host Matt “Shirvo” Shirvington before embracing his successor in a hug.

Co-host Natalie Barr was so overcome with emotion she threw to Kochie to open the segment, saying: “You can talk please”.

“It’s been one heck of a ride,” he said while sitting down at the desk on the Friday morning program.

“I have so many wonderful memories of the adventure and I am looking forward to today’s show.”

Earlier in the show, he revealed he had been texting rival breakfast host Karl Stefanovic and asked if he had placed a bet on whether he would cry on the show.

“I asked whether he got a bet on the Sportsbet book on me crying or not on the show,” he said.

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Karl had joked back his wife Jasmine had banned him from the app after he dropped money on camel races in Dubai last year.

“As we walked in and you were already crying,” Nat replied.

Radio hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O also appeared to congratulate the host for his decades-long career with the program.

With NCA Newswire.

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