Today show anchor Allison Langdon couldn’t resist taking a swipe at departing Sunrise host Sam Armytage on Monday.
The 41-year-old, who returned to Nine’s breakfast show on Monday after a month-long absence caused by a watersports accident, subtly referenced Sam’s on-air resignation during the closing moments of the broadcast.
About an hour after Sam’s tearful farewell, the mother of two seemingly joked about the latest departure over at Channel Seven.
She went there! Today show anchor Allison Langdon (right, with Karl Stefanovic) couldn’t resist taking a swipe at departing Sunrise host Sam Armytage on Monday
‘Well for now I’d just like to say I am leaving,’ she told co-anchor Karl Stefanovic.
‘Are you?’ a puzzled Karl asked, then Allison said she was just leaving ‘the studio’.
Entertainment reporter Brooke Boney was clearly amused, saying: ‘Ally, that is spicy. That is so spicy.’
Sylvia Jeffreys, who was sitting at the Today Extra news desk with co-host David Campbell, added: ‘You’ve still got it, Ally.’
Cheeky dig: About an hour after Sam’s tearful farewell, Allison seemingly joked about the latest departure over at Channel Seven. Pictured (L-R): Sunrise hosts Natalie Barr, Sam Armytage, David ‘Kochie’ Koch and Mark Beretta
Joke: The 41-year-old subtly referenced Sam’s on-air resignation during the closing moments of the broadcast. ‘Well for now I’d just like to say I am leaving,’ she told co-anchor Karl Stefanovic. ‘Are you?’ a puzzled Karl asked, then Allison said she was just leaving ‘the studio’
Monday marked Allison’s return to the Today panel after injuring herself while filming a watersports segment on the Gold Coast on February 4.
She underwent knee surgery after hurting herself ‘badly’ while hydrofoiling at Burleigh Heads, and took a month off work to recover at home.
Allison used a wheelchair and crutches while broadcasting the program.
Ordeal: Monday marked Allison’s return to the Today panel after injuring herself while filming a watersports segment on the Gold Coast on February 4
Recovery: She underwent knee surgery after hurting herself ‘badly’ while hydrofoiling at Burleigh Heads, and took a month off work to recover at home. Pictured with her children, Scout and Mack
However, her comeback was overshadowed by Sam’s shock on-air resignation over on Channel Seven’s Sunrise.
The 44-year-old, who joined the program in 2013, said: ‘The time has come for the sun to set on my time at Sunrise. I have always been brave and fearless in my career and this decision is no different.’
She explained she was leaving of her own choosing, and was looking forward to life away from the spotlight after a ‘bittersweet’ year that included the death of her mother, Libby, and her marriage to businessman Richard Lavender.
Sam’s last day will be Thursday.
Breaking news: Allison’s comeback was overshadowed by Sam’s shock on-air resignation over on Channel Seven’s Sunrise. The 44-year-old, who joined the program in 2013, said on Monday: ‘The time has come for the sun to set on my time at Sunrise. I have always been brave and fearless in my career and this decision is no different’
Her announcement follows months of rumours she was preparing to leave Sunrise in order to spend more time with Richard, 60, at his country estate in the NSW Southern Highlands.
While Seven has not yet announced Sam’s replacement, TV Blackbox reports newsreader Natalie Barr will be stepping in alongside co-anchor David ‘Kochie’ Koch.
Sam’s contract with Channel Seven was up for renewal this year, with celebrity accountant Anthony Bell said to be in charge of negotiations, but the exact date her deal expires is unknown.
‘As many of you know, the last six months of my personal life have been very bittersweet. Some bits have been very happy, and some bits have been very, very sad, and I want to step out of this public world for a while and take some time and calm things down, enjoy a bit of slow living, and spend some time with my precious family, my husband and [dog] Banjo,’ she said during the show on Monday.
More to come.