He’s the new Weekend Sunrise host and a rising star at Channel Seven.
But David Woiwod has not always been making headlines for the right reasons.
The 40-year-old journalist went viral early in his career at the network when he managed to mispronounce the first name of Hollywood megastar Ellen DeGeneres.
Woiwod was doing a live cross from the U.S. during the 2020 Sunrise segment, when called the wildly popular talk show host ‘Allan DeGeneres’.
The journalist, who hails from Melbourne, pronounced ‘el’ as ‘al’, which is a quirk of speech known to many Victorians.
After discussing the coronavirus vaccine during the news segment, Woiwood went on to reveal that DeGeneres had tested positive for Covid-19.
New Weekend Sunrise host David Woiwod has not always been making headlines for the right reasons. (Pictured)
The 40-year-old journalist went viral early in his carer at the network when he managed to mispronounce the first name of Hollywood megastar Ellen DeGeneres. (Pictured)
‘Talk show host Allan DeGeneres revealed earlier this morning she’s tested positive. She said she’s feeling fine but she’s one of many Americans in the middle of this fight,’ he said.
Woiwod made headlines again during the Oscars red carpet in 2021 when he was seen ‘screaming’ at Britis megastar Daniel Kaluuya.
Seven cameras captured the cringe-worthy moment as the keen reporter attempted to get the attention of the Get Out actor.
The network’s US correspondent was standing in the media pit when he spotted the Oscar-nominated 32-year-old making his way into the auditorium.
With Covid restrictions making it almost impossible for the media to get close to the stars, David began screaming out to Kaluuya from several metres away.
‘Hey, Daniel! Daniel, Australia mate! Daniel! Can we have a quick chat, mate? How you going?’ he began to yell, while frantically waving an arm in the air.
A seemingly unimpressed Daniel cautiously made his way over to David, leaving both Sunrise anchors Natalie Barr and Matt Doran stunned.
‘Dan! Dan… You are live on air in Australia at the moment,’ the reporter continued, as the actor stepped up to the microphone that had been set up on the red carpet.
Woiwod has been at the front line of many important news stories since he took up his overseas post for Seven in July 2020
The Black Panther star then began to relax and jokingly responded: ‘Ooh, live! I can say what I want.’
Still, Woiwod has been at the front line of many important news stories since he took up his overseas post for Seven in July 2020.
Viewers were stunned when dramatic footage captured the moment he found himself in the middle of an air strike on the Gaza border in October 2023.
Woiwood, as 7NEWS US bureau chief, was reporting from the southern Israeli town of Sderot when the broadcast was interrupted by rocket battle between between Israeli forces and Hamas terrorists.
As the lethal exchange got too close for comfort, Woiwod ran to safety after telling viewers: ‘In fact, I think we might have to go now, guys. We gotta go. F***.’
After the report was terminated, viewers saw their screens go black, but Woiwod returned to his post an hour later to update Australians on the live situation.
‘An incredibly close call there, showing that Israel doesn’t have a full grip of the situation – a fluid situation,’ he said of the terrifying encounter.
The scrappy reporter was announced as Matt Doran’s replacement during Sunrise on Thursday.
Breakfast hosts Nat Barr and Matt Shirvington welcomed Woiwod to their team live on-air.
The reporter will kick off his new gig from this weekend, but it won’t be his first time on breakfast TV, with the major network opting to promote from within.
Woiwood was a Sunrise reporter for four years after first joining Seven in 2016.
He left the show in July 2020 after landing the prized post as the network’s US correspondent based in Los Angeles.
Woiwood was a Sunrise reporter for four years after first joining Seven in 2016
It comes after Matt Doran called time on his five years at Weekend Sunrise during an emotional announcement live on air at the end of the show late last month.
Known for his cheeky banter, Woiwood has also covered some of the biggest stories of the last four years, including the US presidential election and the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.
He also reported on the tragic school shootings in the US in Texas and Tennessee as well as natural disasters that wreaked havoc stateside including hurricanes, fires and floods.
Other notable events covered by Woiwod include the fatal Titan Submersible accident and the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
Last year he scored an exclusive for Seven when he gained access to Guantanamo Bay to cover the Bali Bomber trial.
It comes after Matt Doran called time on his five years at Weekend Sunrise during an emotional live announcement several weeks ago and said he will be taking time to focus on family and to pursue other opportunities.
The Seven star recently opened up about his struggles with depression on The Morning Show.
