Samantha Armytage: New Partner, Weight Loss, Career

Samantha Armytage has been a fixture in Australian living rooms for more than a decade, first as the bright-eyed co-host of Sunrise and now as a woman navigating a very public personal transformation between a high-profile marriage, a recent separation, and a career pivot that saw her leave the Seven Network after 21 years. This article separates the confirmed facts from the speculation, tracing her journey from morning TV royalty to a quieter, more intentional chapter.

Born: 4 September 1976 · Occupation: Journalist, television presenter · Notable role: Co-host of Seven Network’s Sunrise · Years active: Since 2000 · Marital status: Married to Richard Lavender (June 2022)

Six key facts, one pattern: Armytage’s life has been a series of deliberate transitions – from network to network, from marriage to separation, and from public scrutiny to a more guarded privacy.

Why did Samantha Armytage split up with her husband?

In late 2024, news broke that Samantha Armytage and her husband Richard Lavender had separated after about four years of marriage. The announcement came through a brief statement to The Australian Women’s Weekly (Australia’s leading women’s magazine), confirming the breakup was amicable and both wished each other the best. Armytage later elaborated in an interview with PerthNow (Western Australian news outlet), saying, “We gave it a go. It didn’t work out, so we moved on.”

She described 2024 as a “big year” marked by grief, including the loss of her dog Banjo, and disclosed that she had undergone a hip replacement and had to learn “to walk again.” The pattern: Armytage has been open about the emotional and physical toll of the past year, but she has not assigned blame or revealed a specific trigger for the split.

The pattern: Armytage has consistently chosen to share only what she is comfortable with, leaving the full story private.

Does Samantha Armytage have a new partner?

As of early 2025, Armytage has not publicly introduced a new partner. Following her separation, she told Yahoo Lifestyle Australia (digital lifestyle brand) that she believes she will find love again and is keeping her options open. In the same interview, she said she has “never felt fitter, healthier, stronger, or more at peace” – a statement that reframes the narrative around her personal life from loss to self-reclamation.

The timeline of the relationship: Armytage and Lavender, a businessman and horse breeder, were photographed together at Sydney Airport in September 2024, just before the separation became public, according to a report in New Idea (Australian celebrity weekly).

The pattern: Armytage is controlling her narrative, and any new relationship will be announced on her terms.

How did Samantha Armytage lose her weight?

In 2019, Armytage revealed she had lost 10 kilograms over four months. She told Women’s Health Australia (established fitness and wellness magazine) that the weight loss was “not about a strict diet” but about building healthier habits. She went to the gym twice a week and walked her Labrador every day, while still allowing herself wine, chocolate, and bread in moderation. At the time, she was an ambassador for WW (formerly Weight Watchers), but she emphasized that the program was about balance, not deprivation.

Diet changes and nutrition approach

• No extreme diets or surgery – confirmed by Armytage in multiple interviews (Women’s Health Australia)
• Moderation over elimination: still enjoyed wine, chocolate, and bread (Women’s Health Australia)

Exercise routine and lifestyle adjustments

• Gym sessions twice a week (Women’s Health Australia)
• Daily walks with her Labrador (Women’s Health Australia)

The pattern: Her weight loss journey was built on sustainable habits, not quick fixes.

What has happened to Samantha Armytage?

After eight years co-hosting Sunrise on the Seven Network, Armytage left the show in 2021. She then moved to the Nine Network in 2024, a shift that was confirmed by Wikipedia and later reported by PerthNow. She was announced as the host of The Golden Bachelor and filled in as co-host on Today in December 2024. Away from the screen, she launched a podcast and authored a book.

The pattern: Armytage has deliberately moved from the relentless pace of breakfast television to a more flexible portfolio of projects – hosting, writing, and podcasting – that give her greater control over her time and image.

Has Samantha Armytage lost a lot of weight?

Yes, the visible change was widely noted by media and fans beginning around 2019. Armytage herself confirmed the 10-kilogram loss in her interview with Women’s Health Australia. She has not publicly stated any further weight loss beyond that figure, and she has consistently attributed the change to healthy habits rather than medical intervention. The precise amount of weight lost at any given time remains unverified, as Armytage has not disclosed ongoing numbers.

The pattern: The focus on her weight loss often overshadows her professional achievements, but she continues to focus on her career.

Samantha Armytage’s story is still being written. For the Australian media landscape, her trajectory from breakfast TV anchor to multi-platform personality reflects a broader shift in how TV talent builds careers beyond the network machine. For the audience who grew up watching her on Sunrise, the takeaway is clear: she is shaping her own next chapter, one that prioritises health, honesty, and professional independence over the relentless public eye.

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