Samantha Armytage was expected back on Today this week, but an unexpected weekend setback suddenly changed those plans. Now, the TV star has revealed what really happened — and the extent of the injury turned out to be far more serious than the simple mishap first suggested.
Samantha Armytage Finally Reveals What Kept Her From Returning to Today — And One Detail Shows How Quickly Things Changed
Samantha Armytage was expected to make her return to Today this week, but when Monday arrived, the familiar TV star was noticeably absent.
Now, the 49-year-old has explained what happened behind the scenes, revealing that an ordinary weekend moment unexpectedly left her dealing with a painful injury — and forced her planned return to television to be reconsidered.
Samantha Armytage Explains Her Absence From Today
Samantha addressed her absence in a series of Instagram updates on Tuesday, sharing footage of herself resting on a couch with her injured foot elevated and secured in a brace.
The Golden Bachelor host then revealed that she had fractured her ankle in “a couple of places” over the weekend.
What made the situation even more surprising was how routine the moment had initially been.
An Ordinary Weekend Task Took an Unexpected Turn
Rather than an incident at work or a dramatic mishap, Samantha explained that she had simply been taking out the rubbish when things went wrong.
“I wish I had a sexy story for you, but I don’t,” she told followers.
“I was taking the rubbish out over the weekend one morning and I just missed the bottom step and twisted it.”
She added that she had been wearing runners at the time, rather than heels or anything that might have made the fall easier to explain.
The Injury Was More Serious Than It First Sounded
While Samantha described the incident casually, her explanation made clear that the damage was significant.
“And I was wearing runners, I wasn’t even wearing heels, so I have torn all the ligaments away from the bone and part of the bone away,” she said.
She also shared an image showing the swelling around her ankle and foot, along with another glimpse of the brace she was now required to wear.
Despite the painful setback, Samantha maintained a light-hearted tone while updating her followers.
She Was Still Hoping to Get Back on Air
The injury may have disrupted her expected Monday appearance, but Samantha made it clear she was not ready to stay away from Today for long.
“There are a lot of people out there doing it a lot tougher than I am this week, but I am endeavouring to be back on air tomorrow for the Today show,” she said.
“I was meant to be in this week and we’ve just got to work out how to cover the boot.”
She then joked that any sympathy would be “greatly appreciated” before telling viewers she hoped to see them the following morning.
Her Instagram Update Prompted Some Unexpected Attention
Samantha’s swollen foot also attracted a rather unusual response from some followers.
After sharing the image, she posted screenshots of messages she had received, including one complimenting her red toenails and another joking that the injury might affect her WikiFeet score.
Samantha appeared to take the unexpected messages in good humour, continuing the playful tone she had used throughout her update.
Her Today Return Comes At An Important Time For Nine
Samantha’s planned return comes amid continuing changes at Today.
She recently appeared alongside Tom Steinfort as Nine continued experimenting with different hosting combinations following Karl Stefanovic’s departure and Sarah Abo’s maternity leave.
According to the original report, Samantha and Tom’s stint together coincided with an increase of around 60,000 viewers, prompting speculation that the pair could be considered for permanent roles.
For now, however, Samantha’s immediate challenge is a much more personal one — recovering from an injury caused by a moment she could hardly have predicted.
Source: Daily Mail Australia / Samantha Armytage’s Instagram