David Woiwod to replace Matt Doran on Sunrise

Channel Seven star David Woiwod will replace Matt Doran on Weekend Sunrise effectively immediately as the network looks to 'bed in' its new hosting line-up over the summer non-ratings period. 

Sunrise presenters Nat Barr and Matt Shirvington welcomed Woiwod to the hit breakfast show team live on air a little after 8am on Thursday after revealing the popular US correspondent would be joining co-host Monique Wright on the couch. 

Seven's execs wasted no time appointing a successor after Doran appeared on the show for the final time last Sunday.

Woiwod, who has been working as a foreign correspondent for the network in Los Angeles since July 2020, has been immediately recalled to the channel's Sydney headquarters to take on the role from this weekend. 

There had been speculation a number of network stars, including Michael Usher and weatherman Sam Mac would be given the opportunity to stake a claim on the role while filling in over the summer. 

But sources said the network wanted to move quick to ensure audiences were familar with Doran's replacement by the time the official ratings season kicked off on Sunday, February 9 next year.

The move will see Woiwod return to his Sunrise roots, having worked as a reporter on the program for four years after joining Seven in 2016

He moved to Los Angeles in July 2020 to become the network's US correspondent and was promoted to US Bureau Chief in April last year.

Woiwod has developed a reputation for his engaging personality and cheeky banter when reporting.

In 2020, Woiwod was left red-faced while appearing on Sunrise when he mispronounced the name of US actress Ellen DeGeneres as 'Allan'.

It comes after Doran's shock decision called time on his five years at Weekend Sunrise about three weeks ago.

The Seven star, who recently opened up about his struggles with depression on The Morning Show, said he would be taking time to focus on family and to pursue other opportunities.

'Before we go today, a bit of breaking news from the Doran household,' he said. 

'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 this is, after five years at Weekend Sunrise, I will be finishing up at the end of the year.

'This is 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 Monique in the eye, where I am right now is honestly a place of incredible gratitude for the laughs, the lessons, the tears.

'It is my unshakeable belief 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.'