Samantha Armytage is set to reignite one of Australian breakfast television’s most talked-about rivalries when she steps into the Today co-host chair next week.
The 49-year-old television presenter, who joined Nine in October 2024 after leaving Seven, will reportedly fill in on Today alongside Michael Willesee Jr., taking over from current fill-in host Sylvia Jeffreys, according to the Daily Mail.
The temporary hosting stint will see Armytage go head-to-head with Seven’s Sunrise, where her successor Natalie Barr, 58, continues to lead the network’s long-running breakfast ratings success.
Armytage famously fronted Sunrise for eight years before departing in 2021, with former newsreader Barr taking over the coveted role.
Their relationship later became the subject of public scrutiny after comments made by both women fuelled speculation of lingering tensions.
In an interview with The Australian Women’s Weekly, Barr revealed she and Armytage “didn’t really see each other outside the office”, explaining they lived very different lives and moved in different social circles.
Barr also addressed Armytage’s earlier claim that television was “full of sociopaths and narcissists”.
“I don’t think that the rest of us took much notice of that really,” Barr said.
“You know, everyone is entitled to their opinion and entitled to have their say. But in the past, I have talked about the people in our office being like my family and I am genuinely close to a lot of people there. For me, it’s a wonderful place to be.”
Armytage later responded during an appearance on the now-defunct Kyle and Jackie O radio show.
“Yeah, well, look, I mean it’s better to be talked about than not, isn’t it, in this life,” Armytage said on air.
“I thought everyone might forget about me when I was having my little TV sabbatical, but it seems they’re not.”
She added: “There’s nothing interesting going on there, honestly. I’m just doing my thing, out in the country.”
The exchange escalated after the Kyle and Jackie O X account shared the interview with the caption: “So was there beef on-set between @sam_armytage & @natalie_barr? Let’s ask Sam!”
Armytage then reposted it, writing: “Look.. I’m out. Nat’s wanted the job, forever.. & she’s finally got it. She just needs to get on & enjoy it – & forget about me..(even though I’m unforgettable) #peaceout.”
Barr has consistently rejected suggestions she had been chasing the Sunrise hosting role.
Months before she replaced Armytage, Barr told Kyle and Jackie O she had been content as the program’s newsreader and only accepted the promotion after encouragement from her husband.
“I’m just not that person (to host),” Barr said.
“If Sam had wanted to stay there for another 10 years, that was fine with me.
“There was a call from the big boss who said, ‘How about it?’ I said, ‘Oh, OK, yeah right’. I was actually really nervous. I was so nervous that one of the bosses who called actually said, ‘Are you sure you want this’?”
Barr said that her husband ultimately encouraged her to take on the role.
“He said, ‘If you sit there and say no and you’re listening to someone else do it, you’ll regret it’,” Barr recalled of her husband’s advice.
The renewed rivalry comes as Today continues searching for stability following the shock departure of long-time co-host Karl Stefanovic in June.
Armytage recently praised her former Nine colleague, saying she admired his decision to leave the network.
“And when you work for a network for a long time – I know I’ve been there – there’s a lot of familiarity in that, and you look for something else perhaps. So I salute him,” she told the Daily Telegraph on Sunday.
Despite speculation linking her to the vacant co-host role, Armytage insisted no permanent offer had been made.
“I love breakfast TV. I’ve done it for a long time. I know how to do it, I enjoy it, and I’m doing some fill-in stuff coming up, which will be great,” she said.
“But there is no job offered.”
Industry speculation continues to swirl over who will ultimately front Today, with both Armytage and Jeffreys tipped as potential contenders as Nine weighs up its long-term plans for the struggling breakfast program.
Whoever lands the role will face the daunting task of taking on Sunrise, which has dominated the breakfast television ratings for more than two decades and continues to comfortably outperform its Nine rival.