Sunrise host David ‘Kochie’ Koch was almost ‘fired’ from the breakfast show
Sunrise presenter David ‘Kochie’ Koch reveals he was ‘almost fired’ from breakfast show for ‘humiliation of news brand Seven’ before Kerry and Ryan Stokes saved his job
David ‘Kochie’ Koch created a two-decade legacy as a Sunrise presenter, but has sensationally claimed that the ride was almost over just moments after it started.
The TV presenter, 67, who retires from the breakfast show next week, revealed the fateful moment when Channel Seven executives tried to sack him Hit Cliffo & Bronte in Queensland on Friday.
He said senior officials wanted to fire him not long after he first landed the coveted gig because he tried to make too many “humiliating” changes.
“When we changed the opening of the show from ‘This is Sunrise with Melissa Doyle and David Koch’ to ‘Mel and Kochie’, the Channel Seven news director came down and said, ‘You can’t do that because it’s demeaning to the news brand of Seven,” Kochie said.
“And about a year later, Seven’s general manager at the time advised the board to fire me because I had an opinion and that was bad for the news brand.”
David ‘Kochie’ Koch, 67, (pictured) created a two-decade legacy as a Sunrise presenter, but the longtime presenter nearly lost everything when Channel Seven executives tried to sack him
The journalist went on to say that Seven bosses Kerry and Ryan Stokes rushed in to save his job and refused to fire him because they were ‘very happy’ with the changes Kochie had made.
It comes just days after Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed that Matt ‘Shirvo’ Shirvington will be crowned Kochie’s successor following a three-year plan to prepare him for the top job.
Insiders revealed that his role will be made official on Monday, June 5, four days before Kochie films his last show as a Sunrise host.
The TV presenter revealed that superiors wanted to fire him not long after he first landed the coveted gig for trying to make too many “humiliating” changes. Pictured with co-host Melissa Doyle in the early days of Sunrise
The new appointment follows a carefully curated training process for the popular TV presenter, 44, who is widely loved by Seven’s top executives and viewers.
It is clear that Kochie himself gave Shirvo his ‘blessing’.
“David believes Matt is a good fit for him and thinks he will do a fantastic job,” an insider told the Daily Mail Australia.
The journalist went on to say that Kerry and Ryan Stokes rushed in to save his job and refused to fire him because they were ‘very happy’ with the changes Kochie had made.
They continued, “He’s been filling in for David for a few years now and he’s made his mark. Viewers love him and he has a very good reputation internally, so it’s a natural step up for him.”
Shirvo was earmarked for the job in 2020 when he joined Seven’s Olympic coverage team – a role he fulfilled well during the postponed Games in 2021 and one that inevitably earned him his ‘hosting stripes’.
He also cut his teeth hosting roles on the mini golf game show Holey Moley and Ultimate Tag, which, while not a ratings hit, provided more evidence that he had the “chops” to handle a major format.
Shirvo, who has waited in the wings as Sydney’s weekend sports presenter for the past two years, will soon begin the daily 3am wake-up call – one of the many factors that ultimately led to Kochie’s decision to retire after 21 years. steps.
It comes just days after Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed that Matt ‘Shirvo’ Shirvington, 44, (pictured) will be crowned Kochie’s successor following a three-year plan to prepare him for the top job