Samantha Armytage has opened up about the real reasons behind her departure from “Sunrise” and expressed her reluctance to return to the world of breakfast television.

Recently, news surfaced that Nine’s “Today” show is reportedly in clandestine discussions to potentially replace Karl Stefanovic’s co-host, Sarah Abo, with Armytage, a high-profile presenter.

However, in a candid conversation on “The Jess Rowe Big Talk Show” podcast, the 49-year-old former host revealed that the intense scrutiny she faced during her time on “Sunrise” was overwhelming and contributed to her decision to step back. Armytage, who joined the show in 2013, explained that the evolving landscape of social media and news led to an increase in negative commentary directed at her.

“The fact that I left ‘Sunrise’ in 2021 indicates that I didn’t always handle that pressure well,” Armytage shared on the podcast. She recounted the shift from being a journalist to becoming the focus of news stories herself, reflecting on how she often bore the brunt of criticism for incidents that occurred on set, despite being one of several presenters.

‘I think the fact that I stepped out of Sunrise in 2021 tells you that I haven’t always dealt with that very well,’ she told the podcast. 

‘I went from being a journalist to being the subject of the news, and things would happen in my past job, and there would be five people on the set, and the only person that got blamed for it was me,’ she continued. 

Samantha Armytage (pictured) has revealed why she really stepped away from Sunrise – and shared why she isn’t keen to return to breakfast TV

‘That was a very nuclear show, Sunrise, and I was a seemingly very nuclear person at that time. ‘So it didn’t sit well with me because I used to think: “Why me?”‘

Sam shut down rumours that she was heading for Today while appearing on The Kyle & Jackie O Show this week. 

‘No one has said that to me. And you know rumours… you know how this game works. No one said it,’ she said. 

‘I’m really happy in prime time. This is what I came to Channel Nine for,’ Sam added.  

Rumours exploded last week that the casting shakeup was a ‘desperate bid to wrestle the TV breakfast crown from Seven’s rival Sunrise’ The Australian reported. 

Armytage and Stefanovic, 51, were slated as the ‘dream team’ that could see Today topple Sunrise’s domination in the morning show ratings. 

The network was said to be banking on the ‘Armytage effect’ which saw Sunrise score a ratings victory when Armytage joined the program in 2013. 

Armytage left Sunrise in 2021 and has gone on to helm Farmer Wants A Wife and the upcoming Golden Bachelor. 

Sam, 49, who left Sunrise in 2021, told The Jess Rowe Big Talk Show podcast that she buckled under the scrutiny she faced while starring on the program

Nine CEO Matt Stanton did little to dispel the chatter regarding Abo’s future at Today, giving The Australian a coy response when asked if Armytage was stepping into the role alongside Stefanovic. 

‘I don’t know. I’m not into that level to be honest, I haven’t seen that level of detail,’ Stanton told the publication this week. 

Abo, 39, joined Today in 2023, replacing outgoing host Allison Langdon. 

Langdon had announced her departure in 2022. She then stepped into the hosting role at A Current Affair, replacing long-time presenter Tracy Grimshaw. 

Abo’s reported recent push for a bigger pay packet is part of the motivation for the switch-up, The Australian claimed.    

Stefanovic has recently been offered a multi-million dollar, multi-year deal by Nine, but the network is keeping an eye on the ratings under Stefanovic’s reign. 

The breakfast show host has reportedly landed himself a $3 million per year contract, according to The Australian in June.

Stefanovic’s Today co-host Abo makes only $800,000 a year, according to Mediaweek, highlighting a stark gender pay gap between the two. 

Last week, news broke that Nine’s Today show is in ‘secret talks’ to replace Karl Stefanovic’s co-host Sarah Abo with A-list ‘prestige’ presenter, Armytage. Karl and Sarah are pictured 

‘Nine sources tell us the network’s top brass have just finished passing a hat around at their Denison St headquarters in North Sydney and have managed to scrape together enough loose change to offer him a contract worth about $3 million a year,’ the paper’s Media Diary wrote of Stefanovic’s pay packet.

Sitting on a $2.8 million a year contract at the time, Stefanovic was rumoured to see a significant increase in his pay as he continued to front the successful breakfast show.

According to the publication, Nine is said to have given in to the TV presenter’s demands after he threatened to walk away if they low-balled on a new contract.

The news came as a shock considering rival breakfast hosts Natalie Barr and Matt Shirvington make a meagre $2 million between them.

The Australian’s inaugural TV Rich List report claimed in May that Stefanovic was being paid an eye-watering $2 million more than his co-host Abo.

The report collated the 35 highest salaries among TV stars on Australia’s three commercial networks – Channel Seven, Nine and Network 10.

It revealed that Stefanovic is the highest-paid small screen star Down Under, bringing home a formidable $2.8 million annually, making almost three times as much as Abo.

This is in stark contrast to his Today counterpart, who came in at tenth place with a salary of $800,000.

Daily Mail has reached out to Channel Nine for comment.