David Koch breaks silence on his replacement as Sunrise host after suddenly ... trends now
David Koch shared an intimate lunch with colleague Natalie Barr and wife Libby on Monday after announcing he was leaving Sunrise after 21 years as co-host.
The trio met for a meal at Machiavelli restaurant in the Sydney central business district once Koch had finished a round of media interviews about his departure.
Koch has not anointed his replacement host at Sunrise but has plenty of advice for whoever takes the role, which he calls a lifestyle as much as a job.
'I don't have a personal pick,' Koch told Daily Mail Australia of his successor after announcing he was quitting the breakfast television program.
'But there's some great next-generation hosts coming through.
David Koch went for an intimate lunch with Sunrise co-host Natalie Barr (left) and wife Libby at Machiavelli restaurant in the Sydney CBD on Monday after he quit the breakfast program
Koch has not anointed his replacement host at Sunrise but has plenty of advice for whoever takes the role, which he calls a lifestyle as much as a job. He is pictured at lunch on Monday with Natalie Barr (left) and wife Libby
'My biggest advice is just be yourself. Three-and-three-quarter hours of live television every day strips you bare as a human being.
'Viewers know you intimately. If you pretend to be someone you're not, they will know and it will come back to haunt you.'
Among those tipped to take Koch's position at Sunrise is retired Olympic sprinter and regular fill-in host Matt Shirvington but Koch would not single out any candidate.
Koch said he had considered leaving the program at the end of last year but decided to hold off his departure after discussions with his 'unbelievably supportive' bosses at Seven.
Network executives had told Koch he had earned the right to do what he wanted but asked him to stay on for six more months to bed down the transition of a new host.
They had also asked that Koch 'keep a connection' with the network for the next 18 months.
'Why now? It just feels right,' Koch said of quitting. 'Almost 21 years, almost 16,000 hours of live TV, that is a frickin' long time.'
'I don't have a personal pick,' Koch told Daily Mail Australia of who would fill his shoes upon announcing he was quitting the Network Seven program after 21 years. 'But there's some great next-generation hosts coming through
Koch said he had considered leaving the program at the end of last year but decided to hold off his departure after discussions with his 'unbelievably supportive' bosses at Seven
Koch would spend more time working on his business interests including the Ausbiz finance streaming platform which he said was expanding overseas and 'close to my heart'.
'I basically want to work business hours and I've got a big family who've really supported me for a long time so it's a time to sort of live a more normal life,' he said.
'Sunrise is the world's best job but it's also a lifestyle. It's not just a job. It completely takes over your life and I just want a bit more
