“Life is good”: Sam Armytage on finding the balance.

For much of her 8 years as co-host of Sunrise, Sam Armytage was rarely out of the public eye.

Paparazzo pics, clickbait stories, speculation about her personal life…. and blowing up TV moments which invariably happen when you’re Live on air for over 17 hours a week.

Since stepping back from daily television, and marrying Richard Lavender, Armytage is happy to have found more balance and even a way to deal with unwelcome press.

“I lead a fairly quiet life in the bush and keep to myself, and then you sort of dip your toe back in when it comes back into television and it all flares up again. I guess that’s all part of it. I’m trying to make peace with the press attention,” she tells TV Tonight.

“It’s nice to have a husband to go through it with you. He says, ‘Wear it like a badge of honour, that they’re still interested!’

“Because I haven’t really been on air for two years. So, you know, I would have thought people had forgotten about me a bit, but it doesn’t seem they have, which is nice.”

Now hosting Farmer Wants a Wife, Armytage is still a popular go-to for media headlines.

“I’m very bemused by some of it. There’s obviously still a bit of clickbait around. There was a story a few weeks ago that I wasn’t appearing on Dancing with the Stars,” she laughs.

“Why would I be on Dancing with the Stars, I’ve already been on it, and this is not an All-Stars.

“It’s a non-story, but it’s an opportunity for them to use picture of me to get clicks. So I thought, ‘God, how ridiculous.’ But that’s what you get, isn’t it?

“But I’ve got it all in place now where I can process it properly… be flattered by the bits that are flattering and ignore the bits that are nasty.

“And I don’t read the comments. You’d have to be mad to be doing a job like I do and pay much attention to that. Because I know what comments I get on my social media.

“I’m not saying no one should ever write (anything). Obviously, I’m on television for a living and you get attention through that. But I think some of the attention I got in the past was unfair, and just plain malicious.”

Stepping away from Sunrise also has other benefits, not just from being able to sleep in.

“I don’t have to follow that daily outrage process. I don’t have to get involved in any of that and it’s blissful. So I’m really enjoying being a little bit separated from all of the noise, shall we say?”

Armytage’s return to a lead hosting role has been a win for Seven. After Natalie Gruzlewski reportedly wanted to wind back her duties on Farmer Wants a Wife, Armytage has taken the show to a winning position against stiff competition. Judging by exec reactions, Seven’s top brass are mightily pleased.

“I think James Warburton is doing a terrific job, he’s sort of calmed it all down, putting some good people in some good roles. I know James’ heart is really in it. He’s a nice boss, he’ll text you a lot of feedback and I think he’s as involved as a CEO can be. (Director of Production) Andrew Backwell has been fantastic as well. He sends lovely messages saying he’s watched the episodes and some of them made him cry,” she reveals.

“And it’s the first time in my career working for a female EP. Sylvia D’Souza is fantastic. Who would have thought at 46, you’d have your first female EP?

“Farmer is a new thing for me to do. It’s a bit of fun, sort of a change of direction in my career,” she adds.

“I’ve had a nice hiatus, and now I can try something new. Life is good.”

Farmer Wants a Wife continues Sunday – Tuesday on Seven.