Aussie athlete turned TV presenter Matt Shirvington will replace David Koch as Sunrise’s new co-host.
On Wednesday, the 44-year-old looked a little frustrated when he was spotted walking to his car in Sydney’s Balmoral Beach.
The former sprinter showed off his expensive taste in a black Maison Margiela designer hoodie worth around $1150.
After arriving at his white Volvo, Shirvington opened the door to reveal a stack of messy papers stuffed into the side.
The outing comes on the heels of news that inflation has risen despite the Reserve Bank raising interest rates 11 times in a year – raising fears of another rate hike next week.
New Sunrise presenter Matt Shirvington (pictured) looked a little frustrated when he was spotted walking to his car in Sydney’s Balmoral Beach on Wednesday
After arriving at his white Volvo, Shirvington opened the door to reveal a stack of messy papers stuffed into the side
The official monthly measurement for April showed a reading of 6.8 percent, up from 6.3 percent in March, the Australian Bureau of Statistics announced on Wednesday.
Economist Warren Hogan, the general manager of EQ Economics, said the bad news could lead the Reserve Bank to raise rates again next Tuesday.
Meanwhile, former Olympic sprinter Matt officially gets his new role on Sunrise on Monday, June 5, four days before Koch films his final show as host.
The new appointment follows a carefully curated training process for the popular ‘Shirvo’, widely loved by Seven’s top executives and viewers alike.
It is clear that Koch himself gave Shirvington his ‘blessing’.
The Aussie athlete turned TV presenter will replace David Koch (pictured) as Sunrise’s new co-host
The former sprinter showed off his expensive taste in a black Maison Margiela designer hoodie worth around $1150
The TV personality looked less than impressed in his designer black hoodie
“David believes Matt is a good fit for him and thinks he will do a fantastic job,” an insider told the Daily Mail Australia.
‘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.”
Shirvington 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.
Matt’s outing comes on the heels of news that inflation has risen despite the Reserve Bank raising interest rates 11 times a year – raising fears of another rate hike next week
He clutched his car keys in one hand as he opened the door and got ready to leave the beach
It was hard to miss the messy papers in the door of Matt’s car
Shirvington, 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 many factors that ultimately led to Koch’s decision to step down after 21 years .
The 67-year-old TV legend first shared the news of his decision with Sunrise viewers and staff on Monday morning’s show.
“I loved every minute of my time at Sunrise,” Koch said on the air.
“I’ve been privileged to have so many adventures, meet so many incredible people, and have so many moments of history in the making.”
Kerry Stokes, chairman of Seven West Media, said: ‘I will personally miss David as he is a thorough professional and a wonderful human being, especially in the way he has mentored so many Seven people.’
Seven West Media Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer James Warburton added in a statement: “All good things must come to an end, and I admire and respect his decision to leave Sunrise while he is at the top of his game.”
Shirvington has what it takes to outshine rival Karl Stefanovic according to an industry expert who thinks the former Aussie sprint star is ‘relatable’.
As Kochie prepares for retirement after an epic 21-year reign, the focus is now on whether or not ‘Shirvo’ can continue Sunrise’s victory over Today.
Shirvington (with co-host Natalie Barr) will permanently host Sunrise in June
A former Olympian, network darling and audience favorite – he’ll be taking over from Koch and pushing for a 19th consecutive ratings win when he takes on the hosting gig in June.
Not surprisingly, the industry is abuzz with speculation over whether or not “Shirvo” and co-host Natalie Barr will be able to maintain Koch’s loyal fan base and withstand another onslaught from the current hosting pairing of Stefanovic and Sarah Abo. .
Veteran media analyst Steve Allen, of independent media agency Pearman Media, agreed that the new host gives Shirvington Today the best chance in years to finally turn the ratings in their favor.
However, he said Shirvington is a fitting successor to Koch, largely due to the fact that both men are “really relatable” and don’t seem prone to personal life dramas like Stefanovic.
“Because let’s face it…Karl doesn’t always seem to be authentic,” Allen told Daily Mail Australia.
“It seems like he’s always busy with something naughty he’s done. Hardly a year goes by that Karl isn’t involved in some snafu,’ he continued.
And while he may be trying to sound relatable, at the end of the day his personal life suggests otherwise…he’s always present at social events with a silver spoon, attends celebrity weddings, and seeks out a bunch of friends on the street. A-list.
“[Producers now]may not want us to judge him for that, but the reality is that the audience does and that’s a letdown.”
By comparison, Shirvington is “really down to earth,” Allen said.