Mark Beretta has finally opened up about why he chose to step away from Sunrise — a move that stunned viewers last month when he revealed he’d be leaving the Channel 7 breakfast show after an incredible 22-year run.
Beretta first appeared on Sunrise back in 2000 before officially joining the presenting team in 2003. When he announced his departure, he called the role his “dream job” and “an honour”.
Now, he’s sharing what was really going on behind the scenes.
“It was a bit of both — partly Channel 7’s decision and partly mine,” he told the Daily Telegraph. “I could see what was coming, and I didn’t want to stick around for that.”
He admitted that TV is “tougher than ever”, and after more than two decades on the show, he felt it was time to step back.
“To be honest, it’s been a pretty harrowing couple of years,” he added. “There’s been a lot happening outside of Sunrise and I needed a reset.”
A difficult few years behind the scenes
For Beretts, as viewers affectionately know him, the past six years have been especially challenging.
His mother was diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer in 2019, and in 2022, his father also received a cancer diagnosis. Sadly, his dad passed away earlier this year.
On top of that, his 22-year marriage to his wife Rachel came to an end in 2023.
After losing his father, Beretta said the grief forced him to rethink what truly mattered and whether being on a breakfast show was still the right place for him. He took three weeks away from work to be with his dad, who had “a lot he wanted to say” before he passed.
More recently, Beretta learned that his mother’s cancer has progressed.
“We don’t have a lot of time left with her, and that’s a huge part of my decision right now,” he told News Corp. “I love the job, it’s fun, and it’s incredibly rewarding — but I don’t want to miss this time with her.”
He also shared that he has a new woman in his life — someone he described as “super kind and super supportive”, and who helped him through his father’s death. She was also part of his decision to finally step away from Sunrise.
What’s next for Beretts?
After he signs off from Sunrise this Friday, December 12, Beretta plans to spend precious time with his mum and then travel around Australia in a campervan.
While he’s unsure whether he’ll ever return to TV presenting, he says he’ll remain connected to the world of sport — whether that’s as a producer or in another capacity.
