Mark Beretta has revealed the real reason why he quit Sunrise after 30 years.

The long-time news anchor, who announced his departure in November, said that after a ‘harrowing’ few years he decided it was time to leave the breakfast show.

The 59-year-old also revealed that the decision was a combination of the network’s choice and his own.

‘TV is tough. It’s never been tougher,’ he told Daily Telegraph, adding that he felt like he needed a break, especially when his family life started taking a turn.

Mark’s mother Joan was diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer in 2019 and, just three years later, his father David was diagnosed with cancer too.

And in 2023, Mark’s marriage of 22 years came to an end.

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Mark Beretta (pictured) has revealed the real reason why he quit Sunrise after 30 years 

The longtime news anchor, who announced his departure in November, said that after a ‘harrowing’ few years he decided it was time to leave the breakfast show 

After his father passed away at the beginning of this year, Mark started to think about a life outside of Sunrise, one where he could focus on his family.

‘The job is great and it’s fun and I get a lot of satisfaction out of it. But, I don’t want to lose this time. I don’t want to lose these moments. So, you know, I’ll grab them,’ he shared after revealing his mother’s cancer had progressed.

However, despite a difficult year, Mark revealed he has a ‘friend’ who has been supportive and caring throughout his Seven departure and the loss of his father. 

‘She’s been by my side through the time with dad, and dad loved her, which is great. She’s great,’ he said of the mystery woman.

Mark appeared emotional as he announced his departure from Sunrise on-air last month.

‘After 30 years working with the Seven Network and after a lot of long nights and thinking about it, the time is right for me to step away from Sunrise,’ he said.

‘Working in this job and in sport has been my dream; it has given me the most extraordinary experiences and memories I could ever have wished for.

‘I will treasure all the many good times and many friendships. I’m so proud to have been a part of Sunrise, and it is incredibly hard to leave behind my Sunrise family and the show we have all put so much energy into for the last 22 years.

After his father (right) passed away at the beginning of this year, Mark (left) started to think about a life outside of Sunrise, one where he could focus on his family

‘If you had told me in February 1995, when I walked through the doors of Seven Melbourne for my first day, that 30 years later I would still be doing the job I love, I wouldn’t have believed you, but I would have punched the air.’

‘It has been an honour, and I have loved every day, every experience working with the amazing group of people,’ he continued. 

Mark kick started his journalism career in 1988 when he initially joined Radio 3GL in Geelong, before moving on to Triple M Melbourne as a sports reporter, where he worked alongside Eddie McGuire.

He moved into TV in 1994 when he joined Channel Ten to commentate its National Basketball League coverage. 

He impressed Seven Melbourne executives so much that they poached him as a sports reporter.

By 2008, he was presenting the Seven Early News sport alongside Barr, which eventually transformed into the current hit breakfast show Sunrise.

During his decades on breakfast TV, Mark has covered 13 Olympic Games for Seven Network, hosting prime-time coverage of the Sydney 2000 Games and Cathy Freeman’s iconic 400m gold.

He also commentated Australia’s first Olympic Freestyle Aerials Gold in 2002.

His work spans the AFL, Australian Open Tennis, Supercars, Commonwealth Games, surf lifesaving, water skiing and many other major sporting events.

Mark has also been part of ground-breaking broadcasts, including a world-first five-country, five-day broadcast for Sunrise, and ran with the Olympic flame in Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008.