Matt Doran to leave Weekend Sunrise to focus on family and pursue other opportunities

Matt Doran has announced he is leaving Weekend Sunrise to focus on family and pursue other opportunities.

In his farewell speech on-air on Sunday, the award-winning investigative reporter described his five years co-hosting the show with Monique Wright had been “one of the best jobs on Earth”.

“Before we go today, a bit of breaking news from the Doran household. I want to share with you a decision I’ve made, with my beautiful wife Kendall — and of course in earnest consultation with our beloved Italian greyhound Murphy — and that is, after five years at Weekend Sunrise, I will be finishing up at the end of the year,” he said.

“It’s something I’ve agonised over because it’s honest to say this is one of the best jobs on earth, but we think it’s right — and at the right time — for our little family.

“While I’m sad, and I’m doing everything possible presently not to look Mon in the eye, where I am right now is honestly a place of incredible gratitude. For the laughs, the lessons, the tears, the phenomenal sense of life perspective, the carousels of astonishing snacks (even the tofu).”

Doran’s final show will be on December 8 with the journalist admitting he was feeling the pull back towards crime and documentaries.

“It is my unshakeable belief that this role — specifically, being entrusted with the telling of people’s most intimate, most personal stories — is one of the more privileged positions on the planet.

“And actually, storytelling is probably at the heart of this decision – finding ways to tell stories that break the mould. I came to the Seven Network eight years ago with a background in crime and documentaries, and I’m being pulled back in that direction again now.”

Doran said he was thankful to the viewers, especially the ones that wrote in with feedback.

“What a monstrous honour to be afforded a few hours of your precious time on your precious weekends no less. That is one thing I have never, ever taken for granted,” he said.

“When I say this, I am saying it from the very bottom of my heart – you have supported me, in ways I never imagined would be possible.

“If you would indulge just a moment longer.

“I would like to thank Kerry Stokes our Chairman for the privilege of this role for the last five years. Anthony De Ceglie and of course a very special thanks to Sarah Stinson the Director of Morning TV – she is an incredible leader, one of the best executive producers I’ve worked for, and she genuinely cares about her team.”

Doran then turned to Wright, his co-host and “best friend”.

“There will be time over the next few weeks to properly say goodbye and thank my family and the amazing Weekend Sunrise family but for now.. I do need to say this,” he said.

“Mon… you are not just a colleague; you are my best friend, and I am going to miss you.

“Let me tell you, however incredible you think Mon is on camera, it’s 10-fold behind the scenes – it’s the little things she does as a friend for her friends, that she doesn’t broadcast, and they in my opinion sum up her character, and define her.”

Wright said she was “honoured” to work alongside Doran and also described him as her best friend.

“His empathy, depth, warmth, fierce intelligence and humour is such an extraordinary combination, and I feel honoured to have got to work alongside him for as long as I have ... As one of the funniest, most self-deprecating people I’ve ever met, I am forever grateful for the huge, uncontrollable belly laughs I have shared with Matt,” she said.

“Our friendship and laughs will continue off screen and while I’ll miss him terribly at work, I’m so happy for Matt and Kenny (Matt’s wife Kendall) and for them to now enjoy their much-deserved weekends together.”

Doran is an Emmy-nominated television host and award-winning investigative reporter who has covered major international stories from all corners of the globe.

He joined Seven in 2017 as a senior correspondent for Sunday Night. In October 2019, he took the reigns as co-host of Weekend Sunrise alongside Wright.

Sarah Stinson, Seven’s Director of Morning Television said: “Matt has been an integral and much-loved member of the Weekend Sunrise family. His warmth, humour, and unique perspective have brought so much to our mornings over the past five years. While we will greatly miss him, we are excited for his next chapter and extend our heartfelt thanks for all he has contributed – not only to our viewers but to the entire team.”

Anthony De Ceglie, Seven’s Director of News and Current Affairs and Seven West Media Editor-in-Chief: “We thank Matt for his commitment to the network for nearly a decade, include five standout years as co-host of Weekend Sunrise. His passion for news and on-air rapport with Monique have been key to the program’s continued ratings dominance. His skill in live reporting and brave investigations in that time are also to be commended, bringing critical stories to audiences that have driven meaningful change. We wish Matt nothing but the best for the future.”

During his five years as host of Australia’s #1 national breakfast show Weekend Sunrise, Doran has anchored live rolling coverage of major world events including the January 6 riots, the death of the Queen and the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.

As a news correspondent, Doran has reported from the frontline of disaster zones around the world including the deadly tsunami in Japan, earthquakes in New Zealand, the Bali Nine executions and the Black Summer bushfires. He was the first journalist to assess the damage of the devastating NSW floods in 2021.

He has infiltrated dangerous Asian gangs to expose the horrors of child slavery and organ trafficking, an investigation for which Doran earned the United Nations Media Award for Outstanding Television Reporting.