Sunrise star Nelson Aspen reveals the moment he knew his time was up on the Channel Seven breakfast show: 'That's showbiz!'

Former Sunrise star Nelson Aspen has revealed the shocking truth behind his surprise exit from the morning show in 2022.

Known as Brekkie Central's 'man in Hollywood', Nelson shocked viewers when he resigned live on air, later telling the media he was suffering from burnout.

The fan favourite now says that he knew he was finished at Sunrise long before his dramatic departure, explaining it was a drawn-out saga because producers could not find the right replacement.

'The game is sometimes that you just have to tinker with [the show] to keep it fresh,' the 62-year-old said in a new interview on the YouTube show McKnight Tonight.

'They tried to replace me – I made a list – Nula Hefner, James Tobin, Julia Morris, Fifi Box, Eddie Bartholomew... I kept coming back.

He continued: 'There would be times where I'd be on five times a day, and then there'd be other times where I was on twice a week. It was an evolution...'

Appearing to accept Seven's decision to let him go after nearly 20 years, Nelson said he was prepared to keep doing programs even though he had no future with the network.

'That's showbiz,' he said in the new interview. 

'I needed to be loyal to the audience who was so loyal to me. I had to give them as much time as I would be allowed to give them. I wasn't going to just disappear.'

Elsewhere, Nelson said he remains close to Melissa Doyle, who co-hosted Sunrise for 14 years, telling viewers he was Down Under last month to celebrate Christmas with the beloved TV star.

Daily Mail has reached out to Seven for comment. 

After leaving Sunrise, Nelson published the Dancing Between the Raindrops book series.

Tracing Nelson's three-decade-long career as a reporter, in he says, 'fictionalised' form, the final tome in the trilogy, 'Happily Ever After', was released this month.

He is currently a regular contributor as a political commentator on the GB News in the UK.

The New York-based journalist made headlines in June 2022 during a live bulletin from the US.

'After 19 and a half years with Sunrise, I am giving you my two weeks' notice,' Aspen told then co-hosts Natalie Barr and Michael Usher, who seemed surprised by the news.

Throughout his career, Nelson interviewed the likes of Julie Andrews, Harrison Ford and Rose Byrne, and has covered all the major awards for Sunrise, including the Oscars and Golden Globes.

A few months after leaving Sunrise, Nelson told New Idea he felt 'burned out' after struggling to maintain his workload from home during Covid lockdowns.

In 2023, the much-loved reporter wed his long-time partner, Jonny, in a low-key ceremony in New York.

Nelson and Jonny, who have been together for 9 years, were married in a courthouse ceremony.

The famously quick-witted TV star described the wedding as a 'courthouse' quickie – a reference to the HBO hit Sex in the City.