Who is new Weekend Sunrise host replacing Matt Doran? Introducing David Woiwod

He is the new Weekend Sunrise presenter and a rising star at Channel Seven.

But David Woiwod doesn’t always make headlines for the right reasons.

The 40-year-old journalist went viral early in his career at the network when he managed to mispronounce Hollywood megastar Ellen DeGeneres’ first name.

Woiwod did a live crossover from the US during the 2020 Sunrise segment, when he was called the wildly popular talk show host ‘Allan DeGeneres’.

The journalist, from Melbourne, pronounced ‘el’ as ‘al’, a speech feature familiar to many Victorians.

After discussing the coronavirus vaccine during the news segment, Woiwood further revealed that DeGeneres had tested positive for Covid-19.

New Weekend Sunrise host David Woiwod doesn’t always make headlines for the right reasons. (Pictured)

The 40-year-old journalist went viral early in his career at the network when he managed to mispronounce Hollywood megastar Ellen DeGeneres' first name. (Pictured)

The 40-year-old journalist went viral early in his career at the network when he managed to mispronounce Hollywood megastar Ellen DeGeneres’ first name. (Pictured)

‘Talk show host Allan DeGeneres announced earlier this morning that she has tested positive. She said she feels fine, but she is one of many Americans caught in the middle of this struggle,” he said.

Woiwod made headlines again at the 2021 Oscars red carpet when he was spotted ‘screaming’ at British megastar Daniel Kaluuya.

Seven cameras captured the cringe-worthy moment as the eager reporter tried to get the Get Out actor’s attention.

The network’s American correspondent was standing in the media pit when he saw the Oscar-nominated 32-year-old walk into the room.

With Covid restrictions making it almost impossible for the media to get close to the stars, David started shouting at Kaluuya from a few meters away.

“Hey, Daniel! Daniel, Australia mate! Daniel! Can we just talk for a minute, buddy? How are you?’ he started shouting, waving his arm frantically in the air.

A seemingly unimpressed Daniel cautiously made his way towards David, leaving both Sunrise presenters Natalie Barr and Matt Doran stunned.

‘Than! Dan… You are live in Australia right now,” the reporter continued as the actor stepped up to the microphone set up on the red carpet.

Woiwod has been on the front line of many major news stories since taking up his overseas post for Seven in July 2020

Woiwod has been on the front line of many major news stories since taking up his overseas post for Seven in July 2020

The Black Panther star then began to relax and jokingly replied, “Ooh, live! I can say whatever I want.’

Yet Woiwod has been on the front line of many major news stories since taking up his overseas post for Seven in July 2020.

Viewers were stunned as dramatic footage captured the moment he was in the middle of an airstrike on the Gaza border in October 2023.

Woiwood was reporting as 7NEWS’s U.S. bureau chief from the southern Israeli city of Sderot when the broadcast was interrupted by a rocket battle between Israeli forces and Hamas terrorists.

When the deadly altercation hit too close for comfort, Woiwod ran to safety after telling viewers, “Actually, I think we should go now, guys. We have to go. F***.”

After the report ended, viewers saw their screens go black, but Woiwod returned to his post an hour later to update Australians on the live situation.

“An incredibly close call, showing that Israel is not fully in control of the situation – a fluid situation,” he said of the terrifying encounter.

The scruffy reporter was announced as Matt Doran’s replacement on Thursday’s Sunrise.

Breakfast hosts Nat Barr and Matt Shirvington welcomed Woiwod live to their team.

The reporter will kick off his new gig from this weekend, but it won’t be the first time he’s appeared on Breakfast TV, with the major network opting to promote from within.

Woiwood was a Sunrise reporter for four years after first joining Seven in 2016.

He left the show in July 2020 after landing the prized post as the network’s US correspondent based in Los Angeles.

Woiwood was a Sunrise reporter for four years after first joining Seven in 2016

Woiwood was a Sunrise reporter for four years after first joining Seven in 2016

It comes after Matt Doran called time on his five years at Weekend Sunrise in an emotional announcement broadcast live on air late last month.

It comes after Matt Doran called time on his five years at Weekend Sunrise in an emotional announcement broadcast live on air late last month.

Known for his cheeky banter, Woiwood has also covered some of the biggest stories of the past four years, including the US presidential election and the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.

He also reported on the tragic US school shootings in Texas and Tennessee, as well as natural disasters that wreaked havoc across the United States, including hurricanes, fires and floods.

Other notable events covered by Woiwod include the fatal Titan Submersible accident and the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

Last year he scored exclusively for Seven when he gained access to Guantanamo Bay to cover the Bali Bomber trial.

It comes after Matt Doran called time on his five years at Weekend Sunrise during an emotional live announcement just weeks ago, saying he will take time to focus on his family and pursue other opportunities.

The Seven star recently opened up about his struggles with depression on The Morning Show.