Breakfast TV host, 39, who lost her unborn child after revealing she was pregnant live on air suddenly quits her job – and embarks on an exciting new career
A New Zealand television presenter has quit her job at TVNZ 1’s breakfast program to focus on an exciting new career after almost three years on the show.
Hayley Holt, 39, announced she will be leaving the breakfast program on Tuesday, to move into her new role as a sports presenter.
The TV host will be joining 1NEWS sports team alongside Andrew Saville and is set to begin her role from August 24.
Moving on: Breakfast TV host Hayley Holt (pictured) has suddenly quit her job to embark on an exciting new career
Hayley said in a statement: ‘Sport has been part of my life ever since I can remember and I’m excited to be bringing viewers these great stories alongside Sav.’
‘It’s going to be hard to leave my Breakfast whānau [Māori language word for family] after nearly three years on the show.’
Newsreader Jenny-May Clarkson will be replacing her on TVNZ 1’s morning breakfast show.
New career: Hayley Holt announced she will be leaving the breakfast program on Tuesday, to move into her new role as a sports presenter
In January, Hayley announced she was pregnant live on the Breakfast show and said she was ‘so happy’ about the news after fearing her time had ‘run out’.
‘I’ve wanted this for a very long time and I thought my time had run out but it hasn’t because it is happening!’ she excitedly told her co-hosts.
She confirmed her pregnancy after a viewer named Terry, sent in a letter remarking on her ‘fuller’ figure.
‘Is Hayley pregnant or is it just today’s outfit? Her bust and belly look quite full,’ the viewer asked.
New role: Newsreader Jenny-May Clarkson (left) will be replacing her on TVNZ 1’s morning breakfast show
But on May 8, TVNZ released a statement informing viewers that Hayley’s unborn son had passed away while she was self-isolating amid the COVID-19 pandemic’.
‘As we’re sure you can understand, this is difficult news to share and we’re asking you to assist us in respecting Hayley’s privacy both while she’s at home and when she returns to Breakfast,’ the network’s statement read.
‘You’ve been part of this journey and we know you’ll join all of us in the Breakfast family and the wider TVNZ team, in sending Hayley all your love and support.
News: In January, Hayley announced she was pregnant live on the Breakfast show and said she was ‘so happy’ about the news after fearing her time had ‘run out’
‘This is something which affects so many New Zealanders. If you need to talk about it, we can’t recommend the teams at SANDS NZ or Baby Loss NZ highly enough.’
Hayley joined the Breakfast panel in 2018 and revealed last year the schedule had impacted her social life.
She said in an interview with Stuff that being single at her age was an ‘anomaly’ but her demanding job meant she was often tired in the evenings.
She added she was ‘actually really happy now by myself’ and didn’t feel the need to be with someone just for the sake of it.
Tragic: On May 8, TVNZ released a statement informing viewers that Hayley’s unborn son had passed away while she was self-isolating amid the COVID-19 pandemic’