David Koch 'FAMILY COMES FIRST'

WHILE KOCHIE SAYS GOODBYE TO SUNRISE, HE REVEALS HIS NEW FOCUS

As he begins his emotional farewell week hosting Sunrise, there is one thing in particular that David Koch is looking forward to most in his retirement – making up for lost family time.

Hanging up his hat after more than 20 years leading Channel Seven’s hit brekkie show, Kochie excitedly tells New Idea he has big plans for his next chapter, and they all centre around his beautiful wife, Libby.

Though he admits he had the “world’s best job”, Kochie, 67, concedes it often came at the expense of precious family moments.

“I wanted Lib and I to be able to have the flexibility to take time off whenever we wanted to, and do some of the things on our bucket list,” Kochie says of the emotional decision.

“There comes a time in life where you sit back and say, ‘I just need a bit more control’ and focus on the things that we want to do.”

Breakfast TV comes with a high level of intensity, and Kochie readily admits “[it’s] not just a job – it’s a lifestyle. It runs your life.”

The huge demands of the job frequently meant Libby “put up with a lot”, says Kochie, and often had to take a back seat. Sadly, that even included holidays!

“In our household, there’s a long-running joke about how many family holidays have been cut short,” Kochie says, adding that Libby often had to travel with friends when he couldn’t make it.

Naturally, when it came time for Kochie to think seriously about retiring, Libby was integral in the decision-making process.

“I absolutely made this decision with Libby. She is a big part of my team.”