Longtime Channel Seven presenter Matt Doran made a welcome return to screens on Saturday.
The 41-year-old rejoined co-host Monique Wright for Weekend Sunrise after being away from the desk for the past four weeks.
Earlier this month, Seven announced that the popular journalist was taking time off for personal ‘leave’.
During Saturday’s episode of the top-rated breakfast show, Doran appeared to be in good form and happily joked with his regular co-host.
The pair covered stories about the US elections and the upcoming royal tour Down Under.
Longtime Channel Seven presenter Matt Doran made a welcome return to screens on Saturday. The 41-year-old rejoined co-host Monique Wright for Weekend Sunrise after being away from the desk for the past four weeks. (Pictured)
In May, Doran sparked concern among viewers after he was ‘no show’ for an episode of Weekend Sunrise.
Due to his disappearance, producers had to look for a substitute, The Daily Telegraph reported at the time.
He was replaced by news reporter Chris Reason, who returned on June 8 to co-host the breakfast show with Monique Wright.
In May, Doran sparked concern among viewers after he was ‘no show’ for an episode of Weekend Sunrise.
A Channel Seven spokesperson told Ny Breaking Australia that Doran later resigned.
Doran’s disappearance this month comes a year after he sparked a frantic search by police after disappearing while on a work assignment in the Hunter Valley in June last year.
The star reporter was sent to cover a wedding bus accident that killed 10 people, but he failed to show up for his 5:30 a.m. shift on June 13.
Doran’s disappearance this month comes a year after he sparked a frantic search by police after disappearing while on a work assignment in the Hunter Valley in June last year.
Insiders said that when producers went looking for Doran at his hotel in Singleton, he knocked on his door when no response was given.
The high-profile crime reporter was last seen speaking to members of the Singleton community at a local football field.
Earlier, local residents had seen Doran leaving the home of newlyweds Mitchell Gaffney and Maddy Edsell, whose wedding was at the center of the tragedy.
Doran took several weeks of personal leave after disappearing in the Hunter Valley and reportedly spent time at home “prioritizing his health.” (Pictured with wife Kendall Bora)
When the reporter did not return calls, texts and emails ahead of his scheduled appearance at Sunrise, a producer went to check his hotel room.
Concerned colleagues contacted police, who issued a missing persons alert.
Doran was eventually found in a nearby cafe and was quickly replaced by his on-air colleague Liam Tapper.
Insiders say several factors may have contributed to his disturbing behavior, one of which suggests Doran may have been struggling with the confrontational nature of the wedding bus tragedy.
Doran took several weeks of personal leave after disappearing in the Hunter Valley and reportedly spent time at home “prioritizing his health.”
He was replaced on Weekend Sunrise by his colleague Michael Usher.
Doran, who started his career as a police reporter at the Herald Sun, joined Seven in 2017 after working in the Network Ten newsroom for almost eight years.
Two years later, he was promoted to his current role as co-host of Weekend Sunrise, alongside Monique Wright, after occasionally filling in for weekday host David Koch.
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