Kochie: “I was wanting to go at the end of last year”

David Koch has confirmed Seven bosses persuaded him to stay when he wanted to leave in late 2022.

Koch signed a new two year Sunrise contract, but details today spill on more of what was planned.

“I was wanting to go at the end of last year. The guys at Seven said ‘Can you do six months and then maybe do big finance stuff for 18 months after.. a year after?’ They’ve been great,” he told 3AW.

He confirmed he would still be seen on finance matters.

“Yes as a guest, every so often. As you know, that’s my roots. Always has been…. I’m a finance nerd at heart and the Sunrise gig is, if you like, a mistake that got completely out of control. But I’ve loved it.”

Kochie’s replacement will be announced on Monday June 5.

Natalie Barr was one of the few who knew his announcement was coming today.

On air Natalie Barr said, ‘The show would not be what it is today without you. It’s been an amazing ride and we’re going to celebrate that in the next two weeks. We are. My kids were writing a book on whether I cried or not. I was going so well until I saw Nat in the distance behind the camera. It’s been a very special relationship. Lots to celebrate in the next two weeks.”

Edwina Bartholomew said, “It has been the greatest pleasure to work with @kochie_online for nearly 20 years. He is one-of-a-kind. Exactly the same on TV as he is off-air. An incredible mentor to so many of us at @sunriseon7. My very first job on the show was helping him locate a suitably awful and vaguely appropriate ‘Joke of the Day’. I will always look up to him (literally) as a broadcaster but mostly as a father and grandfather. Family is everything to Kochie, and it’s so wonderful he now gets to spend more time with Lib and the kids.”

Sam Mac shared a message he got from Kochie on his first day at Seven in 2015 which said: “Mate, that was weather at its best. It was real, it connected with our heartland, it had charm. That street is the face Australia and we don’t see enough. Great morning. Cheers, Kochie.”

Mac added, “This was my FIRST Day EVER on Sunrise! I didn’t even have the job yet. I was just some weird kid from The Project filling in on trial.I had no idea if I fitted in or if I’d bombed spectacularly 🤷🏽‍♂️. The only piece of feedback I got that day was from the star of the show, Kochie! (he went to the trouble of finding my number). It may seem like a simple gesture, but in the cut-throat biz of TV, this level of support and kindness is surprisingly rare. That message meant so much to me, and tells you everything about Kochie’s character.”

Huge congrats to @kochie_online on a stellar 21yrs on @sunriseon7

I was lucky enough to work with Kochie in my early brekky TV years & he really is all class. His generosity on & off camera continuing long after I left to join @TheTodayShow

Enjoy those sleep-ins Kochie.👏👏👏

— Lisa Wilkinson (@Lisa_Wilkinson) May 29, 2023

Source: Seven News