Farmer Wants A Wife presenter Samantha Armytage has announced she is leaving Channel 7 after 21 years with the network.
Armytage, 47, has rejected a new deal with Seven after his current contract expires in October. The Daily Telegraph reported on Sunday.
Describing the departure as “sad and bittersweet,” she told the publication she felt her time had come and was excited about her future.
“I go by instinct a lot. I listen to my gut. I know when it’s time. I’m proud that I’ve supported myself enough to say, ‘I’ve done what I can do here,’ and move on,” she said.
“This is not the end. It’s just the end of this chapter.”
It was also revealed that while Armytage will still appear in the upcoming Logies, with Farmer Wants A Wife nominated for Best Structured Reality Programme, he will not be returning to present the next series of the show, currently in pre-production.
The reality show’s original host, Natalie Gruzlewski, will return as host.
“After 21 years, Samantha Armytage decided to leave the Seven Network in October this year. We fully understand and support her decision,” Seven Television Group CEO Angus Ross said in a statement.
Farmer Wants A Wife presenter Samantha Armytage has announced she is leaving Channel 7 after 21 years with the network.
News Corp revealed that Armytage, 47, has turned down a new deal with Seven after his current contract expires in October.
‘Sam has made a remarkable contribution to Seven over more than two decades, from 7NEWS and Sunrise to, most recently, Farmer Want’s A Wife.’
He continued: ‘His genuine affection for the rural lifestyle he grew up with and enjoys to this day has shone through throughout his three seasons on TV WEEK’s Logie Award-nominated series.
“It’s been a pleasure to see Sam share his pride in these communities with Australia as our incredible farmer love stories unfold. We wish Sam, and his farmer, every happiness and success for the future.”
Describing the departure as “sad and bittersweet,” she told the publication she felt her time had come and was excited about her future.
“I go by instinct a lot. I listen to my gut. I know when it’s time. I’m proud that I’ve supported myself enough to say, ‘I’ve done what I can do here,’ and move on,” she said.
Armytage joined Seven in 2003 and landed her first major presenting role on Seven News Sydney in 2004.
She replaced Mike Amor as Seven’s 4.30 News presenter before taking on co-presenting duties on Weekend Sunrise alongside Andrew O’Keefe following Lisa Wilkinson’s departure for Nine.
It was then announced that Armytage would replace Sunrise co-host Melissa Doyle, a role she held for eight years, until March 2021.
It was also revealed that while Armytage will still appear in the upcoming Logies, with Farmer Wants A Wife nominated for Best Structured Reality Programme, he will not be returning to present the next series of the show, currently in pre-production.
“After 21 years, Samantha Armytage decided to leave the Seven Network in October this year. We fully understand and support her decision,” Seven Television Group CEO Angus Ross said in a statement.
Speaking about her time co-hosting the popular breakfast show with David Koch, Armytage told the publication that she loved her time there.
“I have fond memories of my time there. It was hard work. The hours were crazy and I used to get a lot of attention, so there were times when it was quite difficult,” she said.
“Overall, my memories are very happy and my goodness, we made good television.”
Speaking about her time co-hosting the popular breakfast show with David Koch, Armytage told the publication that she enjoyed her time there.
“I look back on my time very fondly. It was hard work. The hours were crazy and I used to get a lot of attention, so there were times when it was quite difficult,” she said.
Entering the reality TV realm, she was also a contestant on Dancing With the Stars in 2011 and hosted the makeover reality show Bringing Sexy Back in 2014.
And in 2023, the popular Seven star was announced as the new host of Farmer Wants a Wife.
Armytage recently gave his fans an update on his recovery after undergoing hip replacement surgery.
She confirmed earlier this month that she had undergone major surgery after suffering a “severe” case of osteoarthritis before confirming, via her Instagram Stories, that she was almost off her crutches as she showed her recovery was going well.
She shared a selfie of herself out for a morning walk near her parents’ home in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, explaining that she had returned home after her father Mac suffered a fall.
“It’s a lovely day for a walk around Wagga. Dad has had another fall so here I am,” she wrote.
Entering the world of reality TV, she also took part in Dancing With the Stars in 2011 and hosted makeover reality show Bringing Sexy Back in 2014. And in 2023, the popular Seven star was announced as the new host of Farmer Wants a Wife.