NewIdea
  • Royals
  • Celebrity
  • News
  • Beauty & Style
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Podcasts
  • Win
  • Video
NewIdea
  • Royals
  • Celebrity
  • News
  • Beauty & Style
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Podcasts
  • Win
  • Video
Subscribe
Home and Away opening title
Watch 1:09

Home and Away opening title

{headline}

{headline}

Samantha Armytage spills! "I haven't spoken to anyone from Sunrise"

Samantha Armytage spills! "I haven't spoken to anyone from Sunrise"

Karl Stefanovic and Sam Armytage's SECRET plan!

Karl Stefanovic and Sam Armytage's SECRET plan!

IT'S OFFICIAL! Natalie Barr announced as Sunrise co-host

IT'S OFFICIAL! Natalie Barr announced as Sunrise co-host

Kochie's heartbreak: 'We're devastated'

Kochie's heartbreak: 'We're devastated'

{headline}

{headline}

Karl Stefanovic’s ex Cassandra: I was forced back to work when Karl left

Karl Stefanovic’s ex Cassandra: I was forced back to work when Karl left

David Koch leaves Sam Armytage and Mark Beretta in hysterics on Sunrise

David Koch leaves Sam Armytage and Mark Beretta in hysterics on Sunrise

WATCH: Hilarious blooper leaves Sunrise hosts Sam and Kochie red faced

WATCH: Hilarious blooper leaves Sunrise hosts Sam and Kochie red faced

{headline}

{headline}

WATCH: MAFS Martha fuels Kochie fight with NEW claims

WATCH: Sunrise star David Koch quizzes Sam Mac on his tortured love life

WATCH: Sunrise star David Koch quizzes Sam Mac on his tortured love life

Sunrise's Sam Mac on wanting Kochie's job

Sunrise's Sam Mac on wanting Kochie's job

Kochie releases warning to fans following Bitcoin scam

Kochie releases warning to fans following Bitcoin scam

Carols in the Domain Sing-Along carols

WATCH: Meet the Aussie blokes being hired to garden in the nude

BREAKING: Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell share engagement news on Sunrise

  1. Home
  2. Celebrity

Sunrise star Kochie confesses: 'Why Karl Stefanovic and I aren't friends'

The breakfast TV co-host on life, love and longevity in television - by Stephen Downie
  • 02 Nov 2020

There are only three things of which you can be certain: death, taxes and David Koch on Sunrise.

For 18 years, Kochie has beamed into Australian lounge rooms. That’s a lifetime in TV land.

WATCH: MAFS' Martha fuels feud with Sunrise's Kochie

And it’s even more amazing when you consider he wasn’t even supposed to be co-hosting the Channel Seven brekkie show. Kochie was originally called in for three months to fill in for former host, Chris Reason, following his shock cancer diagnosis.

“It was a complete mistake,” the 64-year-old exclusively tells New Idea of being on Sunrise.

While Kochie himself admits he’s an unlikely TV personality (“I’m no oil painting”), he has lasted the distance and has no plans of quitting now.

David Koch Sunrise

David "Kochie" Koch has co-hosted Sunrise for the past 18 years.

Channel Seven

WHY SUNRISE HAS WORKED

“It’s about not trying to bulls--t to your audience. Viewers can see through it.

“You’re not going to please everyone all the time and you’ve just got to be prepared for that. Some people will totally disagree with you.

“Unfortunately, we’ve lost the art of agreeing to disagree and respecting each other’s opinions. You can stay friends and colleagues, and move on.”

Sunrise

“At the end of the day,  it’s about who wins the game. Each day, we’ve won the game,” Kochie says of Sunrise's ratings success.

Channel Seven

RATINGS SUCCESS

Nine Network’s Today has been catching up to Sunrise, recently scoring wins in the eastern states.

“We have not lost a day all year. You can win in Dubbo one week, or Wagga Wagga or Melbourne, and you can cherry pick regions. We look at the total. We’re a national show.

“At the end of the day, it’s about who wins the game. Each day, we’ve won the game.”

Sunrise Today

Pictured left to right: Lisa Wilkinson, Kochie, Sam Armytage anf Karl Stefanovic.

Instagram

WHETHER HE’S MATES WITH TODAY CO-HOST, KARL STEFANOVIC

“No, not at all. I’ve met Karl a number of times at industry functions, but I don’t need new friends.

“I love the friends I’ve got and I deliberately don’t have friends in the media, because working in the media gives you a distorted view of life and your world.

“You’re in a bit of a bubble and I’ve never wanted to be in that bubble.

“That’s not to say I don’t like Karl or anyone on TV. They’re all really nice people. [But] I don’t need to be friends with them.”

Karl Stefanovic

"I’ve met Karl a number of times at industry functions, but I don’t need new friends," Kochie says.

Getty

MEMORABLE GUESTS

Kochie cites Father Chris Riley, from Youth Off The Streets, as one of his favourite local guests.

He’s interviewed popular stars, such as the likes of Tom Cruise, Rihanna and One Direction. And then there was the time Justin Bieber played a live show.

“It was down at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, but there were so many people police closed it down and everyone followed Justin up to the studio. Elizabeth Street had to be closed. It was mayhem.

“He was a brat, but now he’s matured.”

David Koch Justin Bieber

“He was a brat, but now he’s matured,” Kochie says of the time he met Justin Bieber.

Channel Seven

CONTROVERSY

In 2006, Kochie and co-host Melissa Doyle visited the family of Beaconsfield miner Todd Russell, who was trapped underground.

“When a bloke’s been down a mine trapped and says, ‘Kochie come in here,’ I’m not going to say to him, ‘Stick it.’ He gave me his miner’s tag as a thank you for being kind to his family, which I still have today and is one of my most treasured possessions. It was just a human thing to do and I’d do it again today.

“When I look back, the most hurtful thing was to be called an ‘ambulance chaser’ for doing that.”

David Koch wife

David says the secret to his and wife Libby's marriage success is: “Sticking through the tough times and not giving in."

Getty

FAMILY AND MARRIED LIFE

Kochie and his wife of 41 years, Libby, have four children and six grandchildren – his newest grandchild is Ella, who has a wild mop of hair “like a punk rocker”.

What’s his secret to love and a long marriage?

“Sticking through the tough times and not giving in. She [Libby] and I are very different personalities, but we’re like any normal couple that goes through good times and really tough times.

“And we’ve worked through them together. And I love the spot we’re in now.”

For more, pick up a copy of New Idea. On sale now! 

New Idea
New Idea
  • Celebrity
  • News
  • Karl Stefanovic
Stephen Downie
Stephen Downie is Features Director at WHO magazine.

Your chance to win a share in $25,000!-SAVE UP TO 41%

Subscribe to New Idea today

Subscribe Now
Your chance to win a share in $25,000!

Your chance to win a share in $25,000!-SAVE UP TO 41%

Subscribe to New Idea today

Subscribe Now
Your chance to win a share in $25,000!

Recommended to you

Home and Away opening title
Watch 1:09

Home and Away opening title

{headline}

{headline}

Samantha Armytage spills! "I haven't spoken to anyone from Sunrise"

Samantha Armytage spills! "I haven't spoken to anyone from Sunrise"

Karl Stefanovic and Sam Armytage's SECRET plan!

Karl Stefanovic and Sam Armytage's SECRET plan!

IT'S OFFICIAL! Natalie Barr announced as Sunrise co-host

IT'S OFFICIAL! Natalie Barr announced as Sunrise co-host

Kochie's heartbreak: 'We're devastated'

Kochie's heartbreak: 'We're devastated'

{headline}

{headline}

Karl Stefanovic’s ex Cassandra: I was forced back to work when Karl left

Karl Stefanovic’s ex Cassandra: I was forced back to work when Karl left

David Koch leaves Sam Armytage and Mark Beretta in hysterics on Sunrise

David Koch leaves Sam Armytage and Mark Beretta in hysterics on Sunrise

WATCH: Hilarious blooper leaves Sunrise hosts Sam and Kochie red faced

WATCH: Hilarious blooper leaves Sunrise hosts Sam and Kochie red faced

{headline}

{headline}

WATCH: MAFS Martha fuels Kochie fight with NEW claims

WATCH: Sunrise star David Koch quizzes Sam Mac on his tortured love life

WATCH: Sunrise star David Koch quizzes Sam Mac on his tortured love life

Sunrise's Sam Mac on wanting Kochie's job

Sunrise's Sam Mac on wanting Kochie's job

Kochie releases warning to fans following Bitcoin scam

Kochie releases warning to fans following Bitcoin scam

Carols in the Domain Sing-Along carols

WATCH: Meet the Aussie blokes being hired to garden in the nude

BREAKING: Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell share engagement news on Sunrise

NewIdea
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Competitions
NewIdea Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Competitions

Brands

  • Girlfriend
  • New Idea food
  • Practical Parenting
  • That’s Life
  • Who

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • Home Beautiful
  • All Recipes
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • Airtasker
  • 7NEWS
  • SocietyOne
  • Health Engine
  • Starts at 60
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from New Idea

Magazine Subscription Offer

Your chance to win a share in $25,000!-SAVE UP TO 41%

Shop This Offer
Your chance to win a share in $25,000!