Barr was widely tipped to replace Armytage given she has beenSunrise’s newsreader and a fill-in co-host for the past 18 years. She will start her new role alongside long serving co-host David Koch on Monday.
Sunrise’s new co-host Natalie Barr.Louie Douvis
Sunrise’sexecutive producer,Michael Pell,confirmed the announcement in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Barr,52,was born in Bunbury,Western Australia,and moved to Perth to study journalism at Curtin University. She got her start in journalism at a community newspaper before moving to the United States to work for several local TV networks. She joined Seven in 1994 after earning a Los Angeles Area Emmy Award nomination for her coverage of the OJ Simpson car chase.
Barr joined theSunriseteam in 2003 after proving popular as a summer fill-in presenter. She is married and lives in NSW with her two sons,Lachlan and Hunter.
“While I’ve absolutely loved my role as newsreader,I’ve now been given the chance to move half a metre along the desk closer to Kochie and give something new a try,” Barr said in a statement. “I like to think of it as same-same but different. I can’t wait.”
Koch said Barr has been with the team “every step of the way” over almost two decades.
“Our viewers know Nat is way more than just a newsreader,” he said. “For years she has always stepped up as a co-host,filling in for Sam and I,and spent much of last year leading our coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We all love her wicked sense of humour and no-nonsense approach to life. Nat is a wonderful person,with a wonderful family,and I can’t wait to sit alongside her as we continue to evolveSunrise.”
Seven’s chief executive James Warburton said he was delighted that Barr agreed to step into her new role.
“Sunriseis a very important part of many Australians’ days,” he said. “It’s been the No.1 breakfast show for many years and I know that Nat,Kochie and the rest of the team will continue to take it from strength to strength.”
Armytage tearily announced her resignation live on-air on Monday. She signed-off for the final time on Thursday,explaining she wished to take a step back from public life following the death of her mother and her marriage to millionaire businessman Richard Lavender.
The Seven Network’s chairman,Kerry Stokes,has said Armytage will continue to be “part of the Seven family”.