Samantha Armytage has been seen for the first time since her shock split from husband Richard Lavender was revealed.
Daily Mail exclusively revealed on Thursday that the TV presenter, 48, and her equestrian businessman husband, 61, had gone their separate ways.
On Sunday, Samantha appeared downcast as she ran errands in Surry Hills without her wedding ring.
The incoming Golden Bachelor host kept a low profile in dark sunglasses as she returned to her car.
The TV presenter dressed casually for the outing in white pants a a white and green striped T-shirt as she glanced at her phone.
She paired her look with a brown leather handbag and matching leather sandals.
Samantha Armytage (pictured) has been seen for the first time since her shock split from husband Richard Lavender was revealed
On Sunday, Samantha appeared downcast as she ran errands in Surry Hills without her wedding ring
Sam and Richard’s separation was planned to be leaked to a Sydney newspaper on Friday, but sources confirmed the news to Daily Mail in advance.
‘Yes Richard and I have separated. All breakups are hard, but it’s somewhat lessened by the fact it’s amicable and we wish the best for each other,’ Samantha then told media late Thursday evening.
‘I appreciate you respecting our privacy. I won’t be making any further comment.’
While the news just emerged publicly, it is understood Samantha’s television presenter friends have been comforting the star behind the scenes for some time.
Samantha is no longer followed on Instagram by Richard’s two daughters, Sascha and Grace, although the former couple still follow each other.
Samantha started dating Richard in April 2019, and they announced their engagement in June 2020, before tying the knot at his property in rural NSW six months later.
In a wedding photo, Samantha was seen holding hands with her new husband as they strolled across his Southern Highlands estate on New Year’s Eve, shortly after saying ‘I do’.
She captioned the heartwarming picture, which was taken after their wedding ceremony but before their reception, ‘11.58am on a Thursday. How lucky are we?’
The incoming Golden Bachelor host kept a low profile in dark sunglasses as she returned to her car
The TV presenter dressed casually for the outing in white pants and a white and green striped T-shirt as she glanced at her phone
Daily Mail broke the news that Sam had split with businessman husband Richard late last week. While the news just emerged publicly, it is understood Samantha’s television presenter friends have been comforting the star behind the scenes for some time
Samantha started dating Richard in April 2019, and they announced their engagement in June 2020, before tying the knot at his property in rural NSW six months later
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The intimate ceremony only featured a small number of guests due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with Richard’s daughters believed to have attended.
Samantha also posted a photo from later in the evening, which showed the couple cuddling alongside the words: ‘HNY from the Lav’s’.
Amid her marriage breakdown, Samantha has also undergone a huge career change after stepping down from Channel Seven after 21 years with the network.
She has moved to rival network Nine and been signed up as the host of brand new reality dating show The Golden Bachelor.
The Golden Bachelor is a spin-off of The Bachelor series, but differs in that the contestants of the reality dating show are singletons in their 50s and 60s.
In her new position at Nine, she will also become a ‘fill in’ presenter on Today while regular hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo go on leave over the summer.
Once the host of Seven’s rival breakfast show Sunrise, Samantha will be co-hosting with Weekend Today star Clint Stanaway.
The journalist will ‘wake up with Today’ for a week and a half, putting her eight years anchor experience at Sunrise from 2013 until 2021 to good use in the rival hot seat.