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News of Samantha Armytage’s split from husband Richard Lavender was first exclusively revealed by Daily Mail Australia on Thursday night… but there were key signs pointing to their split in the weeks leading up to it.
The former Channel Seven TV presenter, 48, sensationally announced she had split from the equestrian businessman, 61, last night on the eve of their fourth wedding anniversary.
The couple married on their 40-hectare property in the picturesque Southern Highlands of New South Wales on New Year’s Eve 2020.
Well-placed sources revealed the news of their split exclusively to Daily Mail Australia on Thursday night, with Samantha later confirming that they had split “amicably.”
However, there were signs pointing to trouble in Samantha’s marriage in the weeks before the news became public.
In fact, the last time she was photographed with Richard was more than three months ago.
The couple were last seen together on September 5, when they returned to Sydney Airport after a trip together to Noosa.
The couple were last seen together on September 5, when they returned to Sydney Airport after a trip together to Noosa (pictured).
No more: News of Samantha Armytage’s split from husband Richard Lavender emerged this week, but there were signs pointing to their split.
They both showed big smiles as they seemed to be in good spirits after the trip, which was to celebrate Samantha’s 48th birthday.
Instead, Samantha has made a series of solo appearances in recent weeks, including the 2024 Melbourne Cup, despite Richard working in the equestrian business.
The former Farmer Wants a Wife presenter made a very glamorous appearance at Flemington Racecourse’s world-famous Birdcage – but posed for pictures without her husband.
Stepping out on Melbourne Cup Day, Samantha cut a chic figure in a vibrant red dress as she worked the angles for the camera during the solo outing.
It’s not known if Richard was present at the races, but Samantha was seen heading out alone as she mingled with the stars at the glitzy event.
While the couple does not normally walk red carpets together, Richard’s involvement in the equestrian business sparked speculation that they would attend races as a couple.
The couple had previously made very rare public appearances together at Sydney’s Royal Randwick Racecourse, leaving hand in hand at the races in 2021.
Samantha Armytage’s ‘change’ column
Samantha also made some cryptic comments about everything in her life “changing” in recent weeks, following her departure from Channel Seven and amid the breakdown of her marriage.
Before news of their split emerged, Samantha wrote a candid column for Stellar in which he made reference to the many changes in his life that he was going through.
“Suddenly, everything is changing: hair color, waistline, sleeping patterns, pelvic floor, skin texture, friends, colleagues, houses, slang, clothing styles,” he wrote. .
Although she was talking about her career change moving from Seven to Channel Nine, Samantha continued to talk about “loving” and “losing” in a touching segment.
‘I have loved and lost. “I have laughed and cried,” he wrote.
‘I am stronger, but more vulnerable. I have learned discernment, acceptance and patience (to some extent).’
Samantha concluded her column by revealing that she is happy with the person she has become and is looking forward to her “new adventures.”
Amid the huge period of change in her life, Samantha has apparently been looking for a new companion in recent weeks, as she hinted that she was looking for another dog.
Samantha has since made a number of solo appearances in recent weeks, including the 2024 Melbourne Cup, despite Richard working in the equestrian business.
The couple had previously made very rare public appearances together at Sydney’s Royal Randwick Racecourse, leaving hand in hand at the races in 2021 (pictured).
A new pet
The former Sunrise presenter tragically lost her faithful four-legged companion Banjo in February after he was bitten by a snake.
But he appeared to be looking for another dog after spending an afternoon at a Guide Dogs NSW pop-up shop in Paddington, Sydney, with his sister Georgina.
One photo showed Samantha, smiling widely as she rested her head on an adorable little dog, named Ginger, while Georgina hugged the dog tightly.
However, it seemed like Georgina was the one who was eager to take Ginger home, and Samantha captioned the image: ‘Georgie Armytage, home!’
A second image showed Georgina clearly bonding with the adorable dog, hugging the dog tightly as she smiled happily with her eyes closed.
Social Media Clues to Split
Samantha’s social media pages have also noted their split, as Richard’s two daughters, Sascha and Grace, no longer follow her on Instagram.
However, her now ex-partner Richard is still following her on the platform after she insisted their split was “amicable.”
The house goes on the market
Samantha also took her beautiful home on the New South Wales south coast off the market just hours before her and Richard’s split made headlines.
Samantha has apparently been looking for a new companion, as she hinted she was looking for another dog while spending the day with her sister Georgina in a Guide Dogs pop-up.
Samantha also took her beautiful beachfront home on the New South Wales south coast off the market, just hours before her and Richard’s split made headlines.
The three- and two-bedroom beachfront property had been unsold since last December.
Samantha slashed the Hyams Beach property’s original $3 million asking price in September and re-listed it with a guide of $2.5 million to $3 million.
But on Thursday morning, the Mercury Illawarra reported that the house had been removed from the agent’s listing and was no longer for sale.
Although news of Samantha and Richard’s split emerged this week, it is understood her TV presenter friends have been comforting her behind the scenes for some time.
How the separation became public
The couple’s split was planned to be leaked to a Sydney newspaper on Friday, but sources confirmed the news to Daily Mail Australia in advance.
‘Yes, Richard and I have separated. “All breakups are difficult, but it is alleviated a little by the fact that they are amicable and we wish each other the best,” Samantha told the media on Thursday night.
‘I appreciate you respecting our privacy. “I will not comment further.”
She is understood to have moved out of Richard’s sprawling home in the Southern Highlands and now lives in an apartment located in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Although news of Samantha and Richard’s split emerged this week, it is understood her TV presenter friends have been comforting her behind the scenes for some time.
The couple began dating in April 2019 and announced their engagement in June 2020 before tying the knot at their property in rural New South Wales six months later.
The intimate ceremony only had a small number of guests due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and Richard’s daughters are believed to have attended.
Amid the breakdown of her marriage, Samantha also experienced a big career change after leaving Channel Seven after 21 years at the network.
Describing his departure as “sad and bittersweet”, he said he felt his time had come to an end.
‘I have great instincts. I listen to my instinct. I know when the time will come. “I’m proud that I backed myself enough to say, ‘I’ve done what I can do here,’ and I’m moving forward,” she said.
‘This is not the end. It’s just the end of this chapter.
Instead, she moved to rival network Nine and signed up to host new reality dating show The Golden Bachelor.
The Golden Bachelor is a spin-off of the series The Bachelor, but it differs in that the contestants of the reality dating show are singles between 50 and 60 years old.