Samantha Armytage has been spotted for the first time since her shock over her split from husband Richard Lavender was revealed.
Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed on Thursday that the TV presenter, 48, and her equestrian businessman husband, 61, had gone their separate ways.
On Sunday, Samantha looked dejected as she ran errands in Surry Hills without her wedding ring.
The incoming Golden Bachelor host kept a low profile in dark sunglasses as she walked back to her car.
The TV presenter dressed casually for the outing in white trousers and a white and green striped T-shirt as she looked at her phone.
She paired her look with a brown leather bag and matching leather sandals.
Samantha Armytage (pictured) has been spotted for the first time since her split from husband Richard Lavender was revealed.
On Sunday, Samantha looked dejected as she ran errands in Surry Hills without her wedding ring.
Sam and Richard’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.”
While the news has only just emerged publicly, it is understood that Samantha’s TV presenting friends have been comforting the star behind the scenes for some time.
Samantha is no longer followed on Instagram by Richard’s two daughters, Sascha and Grace, although the former couple still follow each other.
Samantha began dating Richard in April 2019 and they announced their engagement in June 2020, before tying the knot at their property in rural New South Wales six months later.
In one wedding photo, Samantha was seen holding hands with her new husband as they strolled around their Southern Highlands estate on New Year’s Eve, shortly after saying “I do.”
She captioned the touching image, which was taken after their wedding ceremony but before the reception, at 11:58 a.m. on a Thursday. How lucky are we?
The incoming Golden Bachelor host kept a low profile in dark sunglasses as she walked back to her car.
The TV presenter dressed casually for the outing in white trousers and a white and green striped T-shirt as she looked at her phone.
Daily Mail Australia broke the news that Sam had split from her businessman husband Richard late last week. While the news has only just emerged publicly, it is understood that Samantha’s TV presenting friends have been comforting the star behind the scenes for some time.
Samantha began dating Richard in April 2019 and they 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.
Samantha also posted a photo from later that night, which showed the pair hugging alongside the words: ‘HNY from the Lav’s’.
Amid the breakdown of her marriage, Samantha also experienced a big career change after leaving Channel Seven after 21 years at the network.
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.
In her new role at Nine, she will also become a ‘deputy’ presenter for Today, while regular presenters Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo will be on leave over the summer.
Samantha, who once hosted Seven’s rival breakfast show Sunrise, will co-host with Weekend Today star Clint Stanaway.
The journalist will ‘wake up with Today’ for a week and a half, drawing on her eight-year experience as a presenter on Sunrise from 2013 to 2021 on the rival bench.