Samantha Armytage has shown off a glamorous new transformation, as Today fans are divided over claims could she replace Sarah Abo.
The ex-Sunrise presenter, 49, took to Instagram Stories on Tuesday as she stepped out for a chic lunch at Glass Brasserie restaurant in Sydney.
Armytage could be seen rocking a white Carla Zampatti dress with floral cutouts, which she paired with tan sandals and a stylish beige wicker bag.
Her hair was styled in loose, face-framing waves which complemented the TV host’s makeup, and she rounded the look with stylish gold hoops.
Armytage attended the lunch for the launch of Dame Quentin Bryce’s new biography and snapped a selfie with the former Governor-General.
The event coincided with The Australian on Monday reporting Nine was eyeing Armytage to take over the Today desk alongside Karl Stefanovic, to supplant Seven’s Sunrise as Australia’s most popular breakfast show.
However, some fans have lashed out against the move, arguing Abo was a mainstay of the programme and her absence could jeopardise Nine.
“Sarah is nailed in to the show, there is no room for Samantha,” one person wrote online.
“I will never watch Armytage again,” another person said.
“Stefanovic and Armytage…two big egos on the same show…let’s see how that will work because I can’t see that working at all,” a third person said.
Another fan said Armytage’s return to early mornings was a “recipe for disaster” after she quit Seven’s Sunrise in 2021 due to demanding hours.
Other people were in favour of the network booting Abo in place of Armytage, with one person arguing that the co-host offers no value.
“Sarah Abo needs to go. No substance and just sits there giggling,” they said.
“Also, can’t even ask the hard questions. Sam would be the better choice with Karl.”
“If only Sarah had a more bearable laughter, I would not want her to go, and I do like Sam. They should replace Karl, too!” another person said.
Staff at Nine are said to be “terrified” over the possible reshuffle amid speculation Armytage was challenging to work with at Sunrise, according to network insiders who spoke to Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday.
Supporters of the move are reportedly confident it could increase the breakfast show’s audience, creating a divide among staff.
“There’s a big team split at Nine,” one insider told the publication.
“Junior staff on Today are terrified to work for Sam because of her reputation for being a bit difficult at Sunrise.
“The more senior people get it. They think that she will bring in a new audience…and Today needs it.”
The source said, despite their hopes, senior staffers were also concerned Samantha and Karl could “blow each other up with their egos”.
Abo is renegotiating her contract with Nine for a bumper pay increase from her current $800,000 a year, a whopping $2 million less than Stefanovic despite working the same job and hours.
A senior executive said they would want to sign a contract by the end of the day to put a stop to Armytage’s takeover if they were Sarah.
Her position at the network remains unclear, with Nine CEO Matt Stanton tight-lipped on whether she could be at Nine in the new year.
“I suspect so,” Mr Stanton told The Australian.
He was even less forthcoming about the Stefanovic-Armytage team-up.
“I don’t know. I’m not into that level, to be honest. I haven’t seen that level of detail,” he said of the reshuffle.
Armytage sat on the Sunrise couch alongside David Koch from 2013 until 2021.
The combination of Armytage and Koch saw Sunrise consistently take the lead in the morning TV wars against rival Today.
Armytage defected from Seven to Nine last October and was unveiled as host of the network’s new dating show The Golden Bachelor, which premieres on Monday.