David Koch embraces his Sunrise colleagues as he announces his shock resignation after 21 years
Give me the tissue box! Emotional behind-the-scenes photos show Natalie Barr crying uncontrollably as she hugs her co-host David Koch and his wife Libby after he announced he was quitting the show
Sunrise presenter David ‘Kochie’ Koch surprised his colleagues on Monday when he announced his resignation from the popular breakfast show after 21 years.
And behind-the-scenes shots show his co-hosts Natalie Barr, Edwina Bartholomew, and Mark Beretta becoming overwhelmed with emotion between film breaks.
A tissue box was passed to the Sunrise crew as they tearfully hugged their beloved co-star.
Meanwhile, The Morning Show host Kylie Gillies, 55, looked absolutely devastated as she walked onto the set and hugged her Seven colleague and best friend.
Edwina then got up and gave Kochie a huge hug as the INXS ballad Never Tear Us Apart played in the background.
Emotional behind-the-scenes photos showed David Koch breaking down in tears and passing a tissue box around the Sunrise set on Monday morning after announcing he was leaving the show
The Morning Show presenter Kylie Gillies, 55, looked absolutely devastated as she walked onto the set and hugged her closest Seven colleague and best friend
Kochie surprised his colleagues on Monday when he announced his resignation from the popular breakfast show after 21 years
During his on air announcement, Natalie looked heartbroken when Kochie said he had spent more time with her than with members of his own family in recent years.
He said he left the hit show to focus on his own business and enjoy more flexible work hours to spend time with his growing family.
“It’s time for me to work office hours and for [wife] Libby and I to have a little more flexibility to enjoy our fast-growing family, to travel and to focus on the interests of our family businesses in Pinstripe Media and the Ausbiz corporate channel,” he told viewers.
Natalie watched tears wipe away as Edwina Bartholomew (left) and Mark Beretta (right) were so overcome with emotion
Natalie shared a group hug with Kochie and his wife Libby after the show
“As everyone knows, I’m a finance nerd, so you’ll still occasionally see me show up at RBA board meetings or cover other big financial news, but as a guest rather than a host.”
Kochie struggled to hold back tears during his farewell speech.
“I’ve loved every minute of it and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved here over the last 21 years,” Kochie told viewers.
“I started here before Facebook, before Instagram, before Twitter and iPhones. That’s how old I am.
“I’ve been privileged to have so many great adventures, to meet so many different people and to have so many moments of history in the making.”
During his on air announcement, Natalie looked heartbroken when Kochie said he had spent more time with her than with members of his own family in recent years.
Natalie told her co-host, “The show wouldn’t be what it is today without you. It’s been a great ride and we’ll be celebrating for the next two weeks.”
The host has been a familiar face on Australian television screens since 2002 when he started at the Sunrise agency.
Kochie said he would miss working with the entire Sunrise team, but gave special shoutouts to Barr, fellow co-host Mark Beretta, and producer Dave Walters.
Fellow Seven presenter Larry Emdur visited the Sunrise set to say goodbye to Kochie
The longest-serving TV presenter in Australian history made the shocking announcement, alongside his emotional co-host Natalie
“I’ve loved every minute of it and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved here over the last 21 years,” Kochie told viewers