Samantha Armytage reveals husband Richard Lavender had ‘no idea who she was’ when they met

Samantha Armytage has shared a rare insight to her quiet life in the country with husband Richard Lavender. 

The former Sunrise host says that the pair are ‘always busy’ on the farm at their Southern Highlands property. 

‘We have horses and there’s always something going on,’ the 46-year-old told TV Week. 

‘I’m happy to use the chainsaw and I drive the bobcat and the tractor. But not the bulldozer — it’s too big and scary.’ 

Sam says that she and Richard, 60, fell in love at first sight – but he had never seen her on Sunrise, which she hosted at the time. 

‘I instantly knew Rich was grounded and an earthy type. I liked that he had no idea who I was, and I liked his blue eyes’ she said.

 The former Sunrise host says that the pair are ‘always busy’ on the farm at their Southern Highlands property. ‘We have horses and there’s always something going on,’ the 46-year-old told TV Week

Sam added that her role as a matchmaker on Farmer Wants a Wife is perfect as it mirrors her own experience. 

‘The show is basically my life, moving o the country for love,’ she said. ‘I was thrilled to be asked’. 

The television host went on to reveal some surprising goals – including writing a sitcom and training a champion racing horse.   

Sam added that her role as a matchmaker on Farmer Wants a Wife is perfect as it mirrors her own experience. ‘The show is basically my life, moving o the country for love,’ she said. ‘I was thrilled to be asked’

‘All in all, I want a productive, peaceful life — which I’ve cultivated. Lucky me’ she told the magazine. 

Richard earlier revealed that his first meeting with the former Sunrise host left him swooning. 

In a very rare appearance together on Channel Seven’s Farmer Wants A Wife, the extremely private couple shared insights into their romance. 

Sam says that she and Richard fell in love at first sight – but he had never seen her on Sunrise, which she hosted at the time. ‘I instantly knew Rich was grounded and an earthy type. I liked that he had no idea who I was, and I liked his blue eyes’ she said 

‘The moment I first saw Sammy, I thought, ‘There’s my girl,” a smitten Richard said in the episode. 

‘We were very lucky, weren’t we, to ever find each other?’ Sam chimed in. 

Discussing her move to the country after quitting the city and her role on Sunrise, Sam highly recommended the tree change. 

 Richard earlier revealed that his first meeting with the former Sunrise host left him swooning

‘In my experience, it’s really nice when you move to the country, which I did last year for love,’ she said. 

‘You’ve really got to be a team with a farmer. Like, it’s more than just an average job in the city – it’s a lifestyle.’

It comes after Sam has revealed she intends to keep her private life with Richard all to herself. 

‘The moment I first saw Sammy, I thought, ‘There’s my girl,” a smitten Richard said in the episode. ‘We were very lucky, weren’t we, to ever find each other?’ Sam chimed in

‘I always felt that until I was married or really sure about someone, then I’m not going to talk about them publicly, and I’m really pleased I didn’t because boy, oh boy, there were a few who didn’t deserve to be spoken about,’ she told Stellar magazine.

‘Even with Rich, [fame] isn’t his world. He’s a very private person, so I feel like I give enough of him without having to share too much’.

Samantha wed her doting partner Richard on New Years’ Eve in 2020 at his home in Bowral in the Southern Highlands.

 Samantha wed her doting partner Richard on New Years’ Eve in 2020 at his home in Bowral in the Southern Highlands

After signing off on Sunrise in March last year, she was replaced by newsreader Natalie Barr, and has been enjoying a quieter life in the countryside.

In July 2020, Samantha sold her North Bondi home in Sydney for $2.8million, which suggested she was planning to move to the country full time. 

Richard owns a 40-hectare property in Bowral, while Samantha sold her Southern Highlands cottage for $3.1million in September 2020.

In July 2020, Samantha sold her North Bondi home in Sydney for $2.8million, which suggested she was planning to move to the country full time