David Woiwod to replace Matt Doran on Sunrise
- Seven’s popular US correspondent David Woiwod will take on hosting duties
- Will work all summer to win over viewers before returning to the ratings
Channel Seven star David Woiwod will effectively replace Matt Doran on Weekend Sunrise immediately as the network looks to ’embed’ its new hosting line-up during the summer non-rating period.
Sunrise presenters Nat Barr and Matt Shirvington welcomed Woiwod to the popular breakfast show team just after 8am on Thursday, after revealing the popular US correspondent would join co-host Monique Wright on the sofa.
Seven executives wasted no time in naming a successor after Doran made his final appearance on the show last Sunday.
Woiwod, who has been working as a foreign correspondent for the network in Los Angeles since July 2020, has been immediately recalled to the channel’s headquarters in Sydney to take up the role from this weekend.
There was speculation that a number of network stars, including Michael Usher and weatherman Sam Mac, would be given the opportunity to stake a claim for the role as they fill in this summer.
But sources said the network wanted to move quickly to ensure audiences were aware of Doran’s replacement by the time the official viewing season kicked off on Sunday, February 9 next year.
The move sees Woiwod return to his Sunrise roots, having spent four years as a reporter on the program after joining Seven in 2016.
Seven’s top foreign correspondent David Woiwod has been recalled from the US so he can immediately replace Matt Doran as co-host of Weekend Sunrise.
Woiwod is already a familiar face among Sunrise viewers, having started his career as a reporter on the country’s top-rated breakfast show
He moved to Los Angeles in July 2020 to become the network’s US correspondent and was promoted to US Bureau Chief in April last year.
Woiwod has built a reputation for his engaging personality and cheeky banter when reporting.
In 2020, Woiwod was left red-faced while appearing on Sunrise when he mispronounced American actress Ellen DeGeneres’ name as “Allan.”
It comes after Doran’s shock decision ended his five years at Weekend Sunrise about three weeks ago.
The Seven star, who recently opened up about his struggles with depression on The Morning Show, said he would take time to focus on his family and pursue other opportunities.
“Before we go today, some breaking news from the Doran household,” he said.
‘I want to share with you a decision that I have made, with my beautiful wife Kendall – and of course in earnest consultation with our beloved Italian Greyhound Murphy – and this is, after five years at Weekend Sunrise, I will end at the end of the year.
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‘This is something I’ve been concerned about because it’s fair to say this is one of the best jobs in the world, but we think it’s right and at the right time – for our little family.
“Even though I’m sad, and I’m doing everything I can right now not to look Monique in the eye, where I am right now is honestly a place of incredible gratitude for the laughs, the lessons, the tears.
“It is my unwavering belief that this role – specifically telling people’s most intimate, most personal stories – is one of the most privileged positions on earth.”