Natalie Barr is setting the file straight in regards to the “all the time the bridesmaid, by no means the bride” narrative that has shadowed her profession.
Earlier than she was ultimately appointed co-host on Seven’s breakfast present Dawn in 2021, there was hypothesis that Barr felt neglected when the community introduced Samantha Armytage would change host Melissa Doyle when she exited this system in 2013.
This week, the seasoned newsreader sheds mild on how she actually felt in regards to the Armytage’s appointment on the present Barr’s labored on for almost 1 / 4 century.
Talking on Stellar’s podcast One thing To Speak About, Barr mentioned she was not neglected in any way however relatively felt she was not able to take the internet hosting seat alongside David Koch on the time.
“Hand on coronary heart, I didn’t assume I might do the job then,” she tells podcast host Sarrah Le Marquand.
“It’s bizarre the best way no-one believes you whenever you say issues like that, as a result of you’ll be able to’t say it typically sufficient. [Even] when Sam left, I used to be hesitant; I don’t know whether or not it’s one thing in my DNA that [meant] I had bother placing my hand up when the boss referred to as me and mentioned, ‘Would you like it?’ We have been type of speaking across the situation and he stopped me and mentioned, ‘You sound such as you don’t need this job. You sound such as you’re speaking your self out of it.’”
Barr mentioned the considered taking over the function gave her “chilly sweats” and left her second guessing herself and her talents.
However a little bit pep discuss from the boss later, when a internet hosting gig alternative got here up once more, made her realise she was match for the job.
“And I assumed, perhaps it’s OK. Perhaps I can do it. However I needed to be talked into it even then,” she recalled. “I don’t know whether or not it’s a girl factor. I do know it’s a me factor, however that’s truthfully how I felt. It nonetheless took me roughly a 12 months to really feel snug in that job.”
Barr now hosts the present with former Olympian Matt Shirvington, who was introduced in final 12 months to interchange Koch.
“We had the longest host of an Australian breakfast TV program leaving, and we needed to make it work. However on the identical time, Shirvo had been doing Fridays for over a 12 months, so I knew him very well,” she mentioned of discovering her toes.
“The gamble paid off. He’s an important man. We by no means really feel not sure. We by no means really feel disregarded to dry. We by no means really feel like there’s useless air. That’s what it’s like with Shirvo.”
All through her profession, rumours have swirled that she doesn’t get alongside along with her Dawn colleagues behind-the-scenes, particularly when she labored with Doyle.
“My view is to primarily ignore it. I discover that if you happen to give that type of stuff air, and begin complaining about it, particularly publicly… I imply, 99 per cent of the inhabitants don’t care,” Barr mentioned.
“So then different individuals choose it up as a narrative after which much more individuals see it. It’s not price giving it airtime. I mainly obtained together with everybody. No matter a catfight is, I can’t keep in mind any within the Dawn workplace.”
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