Sunrise has officially announced the presenter replacing outgoing veteran host David Koch who will depart the couch this week after more than two decades on the top-rating breakfast show.
Sunrise co-host David Koch held back tears this morning as he announced he will finish his career with the breakfast program after two decades.
Mr Koch says he will devote time to family, his business and his beloved Port Adelaide Football Club.
Kochie, as he is affectionately known, revealed on Monday just after 8am that former Olympian-turned-presenter Matt Shirvington, 44, has scored the plum role.
Shirvington joked it was the worst kept secret in the television industry, before describing the call-up as an “honour” and “privilege” to be his successor.
“It’s such a family. It’s a family show. It’s a mouthpiece for all Australians and their stories, and the thing I love is their stories, and the thing I love the most is sitting on this couch,” the incoming host said.
“Going from complete elation and excitement and happiness with some of the stories that you hear about, to the heartbreak and the horror and the sadness, and wiping a tear from your eye.”
Olympian-turned-presenter Matt Shirvington has been announced as the new host to replace David Koch who will step down from his role of close to 21 years on Friday. Picture: Sam Tabone/WireImage
Kochie then quizzed him on what the family thought about the lucrative gig.
“It’s going to be a juggle at home for sure. I have a five-year-old Lincoln who goes to about at about 7:30 each night. I will go to bed with him and I will get up a little bit earlier than him, but no, it’s been great,” Shirvington said.
“Jess and the kids have been so supportive. Everyone has. I’ve been really shocked. I had the support of my family going into an athletics career and they sacrificed and gave me the chance to do that.
“They’re backing me again.”
Shirvington, also known as Shirvo, was the frontrunner from the start to take the position given he filled in for Kochie on Fridays and when he was on holidays.
The father-of-three is said to have impressed network executives and regular Sunrise viewers when he stepped up in June last year to cover the outgoing host who took about three weeks leave to attend his daughter Georgie’s wedding in London.
Shirvington, who is the third fastest Australian sprinter of all time, rose to fame at the Sydney 2000 Olympics where he made the 100 metre semi-finals and finished fifth.
The 44-year-old first rose to fame as a sprinter, competing at the Sydney 2000 Olympics in the 100 metre semi-final, where he finished fifth. Picture: News Corp
He later competed in Dancing With The Stars in 2004 before becoming a presenter and reporter for Channel 7’s former hit program Beyond Tomorrow.
The network then called him up for a promotion to become the Seven News weekend sports presenter to replace Jim Wilson who defected to radio.
Shirvington also hosted Seven’s Holey Moley, Ultimate Tag, Sydney Weekender, and was part of the commentary team for the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Shirvington (middle) has already been a regular face on the top-rating breakfast show, covering Kochie on Fridays and when the veteran host was on holidays. Picture: Sunrise/Supplied
The father-of-three was the frontrunner from the start to take the plum role. He will begin the full-time gig from Monday alongside co-host Natalie Barr. Picture: Sunrise/Supplied
His wealth of experience in hosting and the regular appearances on the breakfast show would have played a factor in being chosen for the gig.
Executives and the television industry will be paying close attention to the ratings of Sunrise in the next few weeks to see how audiences respond to the new host.
Viewers have woken up to the regular face of Kochie for more than two decades but it is hoped Shirvington’s relaxed and down-to-earth nature can resonate with Sunrise fans.
Two other hosts – Sunrise sports presenter Mark Beretta and newcomer Chris Brown whose role at the network is not confirmed yet – were also in the mix.
Shirvington will start the full-time hosting role with co-host Natalie Barr next Monday.
Sunrise’s sports presenter Mark Beretta was also amongst the contenders to take the spot, as he had also filled in for Kochie in the past and is much-loved in the team. Picture: Sam Ruttyn
Vet Dr Chris Brown, who moved from Network Ten to Seven, was also floated as an option as his role at the channel had not been confirmed yet. Picture: John Appleyard
David Koch (pictured right) shocked thousands of viewers one week ago when he announced he is stepping down to focus on his family and businesses. Picture: Monique Harmer
Kochie, 67, announced on air one week ago he was stepping down from hosting duties after almost 21 years and more than 5,300 shows at the helm.
He told his shocked viewers it was time to “hang up the boots” to focus on his family, wife Libby, and his role as chairman of the Port Adelaide AFL club.
“I have loved every single minute of it and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved here over the last 21 years. I started here before Facebook, before Instagram, before Twitter and iPhones. That’s how old I am,” Koch said.
“I’ve been privileged to experience so many great adventures, to meet so many different people, and to cover so many moments of history in the making. It really is the world’s best job, I know I’m going to miss it enormously.
“But it’s time for me to work business hours, and for Libby (wife) and I to have a bit more flexibility to enjoy our burgeoning family, to travel and focus on our family business interests in Pinstripe Media and the Ausbiz business channel.”
The revelation was not a surprise to those close to Kochie, as well as Sunrise insiders, given he had flagged in recent years he wanted to reduce his working hours.
The veteran host was already working four days a week after negotiating a deal in his contract, worth a reported $800,000 a year, to have Fridays off.
Kochie, a self-confessed “finance nerd”, reassured viewers last week saying he will still appear as a special guest for days of big financial news.