Samantha Armytage announces her departure from Channel Seven after 21 years: ‘The time has come’

Farmer Wants A Wife presenter Samantha Armytage has announced she is leaving Channel Seven after 21 years with the network.

Armytage, 47, has turned down a new deal with Seven after her current contract expires in October, The Daily Telegraph reported on Sunday.

She described the departure as “sad and ambivalent,” telling the publication that she felt her time had come and that she was excited about her future.

“I’m big on instinct. I listen to my instincts. I know when the time is right. I pride myself on the fact that I back myself enough to say, ‘I’ve done what I can do here,’ and I’m moving on,” she said.

“This isn’t the end. It’s just the end of this chapter.”

Armytage will still be appearing at the upcoming Logies, with her show Farmer Wants A Wife nominated for Best Structured Reality Programme. However, she will not be returning to present the next series of the show, which is currently in pre-production.

Natalie Gruzlewski, the reality show’s original host, is returning.

Angus Ross, Group Managing Director of Seven Television, said in a statement: “After 21 years, Samantha Armytage has decided to leave the Seven Network in October this year. We fully understand and support her decision.”

Farmer Wants A Wife presenter Samantha Armytage has announced she is leaving Channel 7 after 21 years with the network

‘Sam has made a remarkable contribution to Seven for more than two decades, from 7NEWS and Sunrise to, more recently, Farmer Want’s A Wife.’

He continued: ‘Her genuine love for the country life she grew up with and continues to enjoy to this day is evident in her three seasons on the Logie Award-nominated TV WEEK series.

‘It was a pleasure to watch Sam share her pride in these communities with Australia as our incredible farming love stories unfold. We wish Sam – and her farmer – every happiness and success for the future.’

She described the departure as “sad and bittersweet” and told The Daily Telegraph that she felt her time had come and that she was excited about her future. Samantha pictured on Sunrise with David Koch

Armytage joined Seven in 2003 and took on her first major presenting role at Seven News Sydney in 2004.

She replaced Mike Amor as presenter of Seven 4.30 News before becoming co-presenter of Weekend Sunrise with Andrew O’Keefe after Lisa Wilkinson left for Nine.

Armytage was subsequently announced as the replacement for Sunrise co-host Melissa Doyle, a role she held for eight years, until March 2021.

Speaking about her time as co-host of the popular morning show with David Koch, Armytage told the publication that she enjoyed her time there.

“I look back on my time there fondly. It was hard work. The hours were crazy and I often had a lot of attention, so there were times when it was quite difficult,” she said.

‘Overall I have really fond memories and we made some really good TV.’

Armytage will still appear at the upcoming Logies, with her show Farmer Wants A Wife nominated for Best Structured Reality Programme, but she will not be returning to present the next series of the show, which is currently in pre-production.

Armytage co-hosted Sunrise with David Koch for eight years, until March 2021

She also competed in Dancing With the Stars in 2011 and hosted the reality show Bringing Sexy Back in 2014.

In 2023, the popular Seven star was announced as the new host of Farmer Wants a Wife.

Armytage recently gave fans an update on her recovery from hip surgery.

Last month, she confirmed she had undergone the major surgery after suffering from a “severe” form of arthritis, taking to Instagram Stories to reveal she had almost completely stopped using crutches as she proved her recovery was going well.

She shared a selfie of herself taking a morning walk near her parents’ home in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, explaining that she was back home after her father Mac fell.

“Beautiful day for a walk in Wagga. Daddy fell again so here I am,” she wrote.

She was also a contestant on Dancing With the Stars in 2011 and hosted the makeover reality show Bringing Sexy Back in 2014. In 2023, the popular Seven star was announced as the new host of Farmer Wants a Wife

Her departure from Seven follows reports that famous faces are set to be laid off and some of the network’s biggest stars are facing pay cuts to keep their jobs.

Respected newsreader Mark Ferguson is in danger and has been given ‘six weeks of forced annual leave’the Daily telegram reported last month.

The network will reportedly begin looking for replacements for his role once his contract expires.

David Koch, who is still under contract with Seven after leaving Sunrise, is reportedly unlikely to have his contract extended.

Sonia Kruger is likely to survive, but she will take a significant cut to her $1.3 million salary, a source told the newspaper.