Sunrise: Kyle Sandilands’ brutal swipe at new host Natalie Barr

Kyle Sandilands has taken a savage swipe at new Sunrise co-anchor Natalie Barr, claiming she doesn’t deserve to replace Sam Armytage.

The radio host, 49, suggested the veteran newsreader, 52, only got Sam’s job because she’d waited in the wings for so long.

‘Natalie’s a great newsreader – not taking anything away from her success – but I think you can’t just hang around,’ he said on The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Monday.

Natalie Barr was announced as the new host of Sunrise over the weekend

‘You can’t just hang around’: Kyle Sandilands (left) has taken a savage swipe at new Sunrise co-anchor Natalie Barr (right), claiming she doesn’t deserve to replace Sam Armytage

‘It’s like me leaving and Intern Pete [Deppeler, KIIS FM producer and occasional on-air personality] being given my job, just because he’s here,’ he added.

Kyle’s co-host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson was shocked by his harsh feedback, saying: ‘Oh, my god. There’s nothing comparing Nat to Intern Pete! Not to offend you [Pete]!’  

‘Okay, maybe you’re right, Jackie,’ Kyle conceded. 

His opinion: The radio host, 49, suggested the veteran newsreader, 52, only got Sam's job because she'd waited in the wings for so long

His opinion: The radio host, 49, suggested the veteran newsreader, 52, only got Sam’s job because she’d waited in the wings for so long

‘It would be like me leaving and just [being] replaced by Brooklyn [Ross, KIIS FM newsreader]. Quality broadcaster, but doesn’t hold a candle to my level,’ he added.   

A shocked Brooklyn interjected: ‘I don’t know. Nat’s not bad!’ 

‘That’s not what you want. You don’t want someone who’s “not bad”,’ Kyle replied, hinting that Seven should have hired somebody new as host.

He then added: ‘You don’t just get a guernsey because you’re hanging around.’

Verdict: Kyle later described Natalie (pictured with co-anchor David Koch) as a 'little cold'

Verdict: Kyle later described Natalie (pictured with co-anchor David Koch) as a ‘little cold’

Kyle also criticised Natalie’s personality, calling the esteemed journalist ‘cold’.

‘I find her a little cold, just quietly. I’ve never met her, mind you. Just watched her on TV. And maybe I find her cold because she’s just reading news,’ he shrugged.

Later in the broadcast, Kyle said he didn’t object to Natalie getting the job but felt Seven would be better off trying someone new. 

'We were never convinced she could do this after 18 years': Longtime Sunrise anchor David 'Kochie' Koch (right) joked on Monday that Natalie wasn't up for the job as main host

‘We were never convinced she could do this after 18 years’: Longtime Sunrise anchor David ‘Kochie’ Koch (right) joked on Monday that Natalie wasn’t up for the job as main host

Natalie officially replaced Sam on Sunrise on Monday morning. 

Natalie, who will celebrate 20 years with Sunrise in 2023, used to regularly fill in for Sam during her tenure, and former co-host Melissa Doyle before that. 

Despite this, co-host David ‘Kochie’ Koch joked on air that she still wasn’t up for the job.

He said with a cheeky smirk: ‘After 18 years as part of the family… and we were never convinced she could do this after 18 years.’

Ouch! Natalie hit her co-host, then said: 'Excuse me! Okay, the first five minutes I'm already punching you. This is going to be fun.' Pictured with newsreader Edwina Bartholomew (left) and sports presenter Mark Beretta

Ouch! Natalie instinctively hit her co-host, then said: ‘Excuse me! Okay, the first five minutes [and] I’m already punching you. This is going to be fun.’ Pictured with newsreader Edwina Bartholomew (left) and sports presenter Mark Beretta (right)

Natalie looked shocked and instinctively hit her co-host, then said: ‘Excuse me! Okay, the first five minutes [and] I’m already punching you. This is going to be fun.’ 

Kochie clarified that he was only kidding and that his colleague’s experience as a fill-in anchor made her more than qualified.

‘It’s fabulous news,’ he said. ‘Handy tip: nothing has changed since Friday, or most of last year, so you should be okay.’  

It's official! Natalie was confirmed as Sam's permanent replacement over the weekend

It’s official! Natalie was confirmed as Sam’s permanent replacement over the weekend

In a statement on Sunday, Natalie told viewers she was looking forward to stepping into Sam’s shoes.  

‘Sunrise has been my work family for 18 years and while I’ve absolutely loved my role as newsreader, I’ve now been given the chance to move half a metre along the desk closer to Kochie and give something new a try,’ she said.

‘I like to think of it as same same, but different. I can’t wait!’

Gone, for now: Sam (pictured) marked her last day on Sunrise on Thursday, but remains under contract at Seven until October

Gone, for now: Sam (pictured) marked her last day on Sunrise on Thursday, but remains under contract at Seven until October