Few things catch viewers off guard like a beloved morning-show presenter sharing personal health news on air. Edwina Bartholomew, the familiar face of Sunrise’s news desk, did exactly that on 6 September 2024, revealing she had been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). This article separates what’s confirmed about her health, career, and family from the speculation around her salary, replacement, and return — so you can know what’s real and what’s still open.
Known for: Presenting the news on Seven Network’s Sunrise ·
Network: Seven Network ·
Media experience: More than 16 years in television and radio ·
Reported time at Seven: 23 years ·
Diagnosis: Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)
Quick snapshot
- Australian journalist and television presenter (Wikipedia (crowdsourced encyclopedia))
- Presents news on Seven Network’s Sunrise (ABC News (Australia’s public broadcaster))
- Diagnosed with CML in July 2024 (ABC News)
- Exact reason for current absence from Sunrise (health leave vs. permanent?)
- Who, if anyone, has been named as the new permanent host
- Official salary and net worth figures
- July 2024: CML diagnosed (ABC News)
- 6 September 2024: Public announcement on Sunrise (ABC News)
- Planned return: reduced schedule, a few days a week (7NEWS (Seven Network’s news division))
The table below anchors the core facts about Edwina Bartholomew in verified sources, giving a baseline for understanding her career and health situation.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Edwina Louise Christie Bartholomew |
| Profession | Journalist and television presenter |
| Network | Seven Network |
| Program | Sunrise |
| Experience | More than 16 years in television and radio |
| Diagnosis | Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) |
| Ambassador role | Leukaemia Foundation |
The implication: the table distills the public record — any details outside these rows lack verified backing.
Why is Edwina Bartholomew not on Sunrise?
Viewers noticed Bartholomew’s absence from the Sunrise news desk and began asking if she had left the show. The answer is straightforward: she hasn’t left permanently. On 6 September 2024, she announced on air that she had been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia and would take a break for a few weeks before returning on a reduced schedule (ABC News (Australia’s public broadcaster)).
Who is leaving Sunrise?
- No official departure has been announced. Bartholomew herself stated she would still appear on Sunrise, but not all the time (7NEWS (Seven Network’s news division)).
- Colleagues have filled in during her leave, but Seven has not confirmed a permanent replacement.
Who is the new host of Sunrise?
- As of now, no permanent new host has been named. Guest presenters have covered the news segment, but Bartholomew’s role remains hers on a part-time basis (7NEWS).
The audience’s question about a “new host” reflects a gap between the temporary fill-ins and a permanent succession plan. Without an official announcement, any name circulating is speculation.
The implication: Bartholomew remains on the Sunrise roster, but her reduced hours leave room for temporary co-hosts until she returns to her regular cadence.
What happened to Edwina Bartholomew?
Bartholomew disclosed her health status publicly to encourage other women to prioritise their health. The key event: a diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), a slow-growing blood cancer, first detected in July 2024 (ABC News).
CML diagnosis: confirmed facts
- Bartholomew had no symptoms when diagnosed (ABC News).
- She said CML can be treated with a daily tablet (ABC News).
- She assured viewers: “I will be completely fine if I take care of myself” (7NEWS).
Leukaemia Foundation ambassador role
- Bartholomew is listed as a Leukaemia Foundation ambassador, a role she holds separate from her presenting duties (Wikipedia (crowdsourced encyclopedia)).
CML is often manageable with targeted therapy, but it requires ongoing treatment. Bartholomew’s decision to go public normalises health conversations and provides a real-world example for viewers facing similar diagnoses.
The pattern: Bartholomew’s openness about her diagnosis shifts the narrative from “she disappeared” to “she is managing a chronic condition while continuing her career.”
Who is Eddie from Sunrise?
The nickname “Eddie” is a familiar shorthand for Edwina Bartholomew, used by colleagues and viewers alike. Her full name is Edwina Louise Christie Bartholomew (Wikipedia).
Why ‘Eddie’?
- Common Australian shortening of Edwina; used on air and in social media.
- Her Instagram handle is @edwina_b (Instagram (official profile)).
Presenting role on Sunrise
- She presents the news segment on Seven Network’s breakfast program Sunrise (ABC News).
- She has been in television and radio for more than 16 years (Leukaemia Foundation (cancer support organisation)).
The trade-off: The nickname humanises a public figure, but it also means some viewers may not immediately connect “Eddie” with the person behind the news desk.
How old is Edwina Bartholomew?
Bartholomew’s exact date of birth is not publicly sourced in the provided inputs, but her career timeline provides context. She has worked in television and radio for more than 16 years and is reported to have spent 23 years at Seven (7NEWS).
Date of birth and current age
- No verified date of birth is available in the provided research. Any age calculation would be speculative.
Early career context
- Her more than 16 years of experience spans both television and radio (Leukaemia Foundation).
- The 23-year tenure at Seven suggests she started at the network in her early 20s, placing her in her 40s today.
Without a confirmed birth date, claims about her exact age are unverified. Readers should be cautious of any site publishing a precise number without a source.
The upshot: Age remains a gap in the public record, but her career longevity is well documented.
Who did Edwina Bartholomew marry?
Bartholomew married Neil Varcoe in April 2018 (Wikipedia). The couple’s relationship is part of her personal life that she has shared selectively.
Does Edwina Bartholomew live with her husband?
- She is married to Neil Varcoe, and in interviews she has referenced spending time with her husband and children at home (7NEWS). This implies shared residence, but no explicit confirmation of cohabitation is in the provided sources.
How many children does Edwina Bartholomew have?
- She has two children, a daughter and a son (Wikipedia).
- In a 2024 interview, she said her children were two and four years old at the time (Yahoo Lifestyle Australia (lifestyle and entertainment coverage)).
- She also said she kept the diagnosis from her children because she did not need to have that conversation with them (Yahoo Lifestyle Australia).
The pattern: Bartholomew’s family life is a private anchor she protects, especially during health challenges.
How much does Edwina Bartholomew earn on Sunrise?
Seven Network does not publish individual presenter salaries. No official salary figure for Bartholomew exists in the public record.
How much is Edwina Bartholomew worth?
- Net worth estimates circulate online, but none are verified by official sources. Any number is speculative.
Viewers want salary transparency, but Australian broadcasters rarely disclose individual pay. The gap between curiosity and verifiable data creates room for misinformation.
The implication: Without official disclosure, salary and net worth should be treated as unknown rather than unreported.
Timeline
Key dates in Edwina Bartholomew’s career and health journey, drawn from verified sources.
- Early career: Built more than 16 years of experience across television and radio (Leukaemia Foundation).
- Seven Network tenure: Reported to have spent 23 years at Seven (7NEWS).
- Sunrise role: Presents the news on Seven Network’s breakfast television program Sunrise (ABC News).
- July 2024: Diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia (ABC News).
- 6 September 2024: Public announcement on Sunrise (ABC News).
Clarity: confirmed facts and what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Edwina Bartholomew is an Australian journalist and television presenter.
- She presents the news on Seven Network’s Sunrise.
- She was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) in July 2024.
- She is a Leukaemia Foundation ambassador.
- She has more than 16 years of experience in television and radio.
- She is married to Neil Varcoe (since April 2018) and has two children.
- Her Instagram account has 237K followers.
What’s unclear
- The exact reason she is currently not on Sunrise (whether it is temporary leave or a permanent reduction).
- Who, if anyone, has been named as the new permanent host of Sunrise.
- Her current salary and net worth; no official figures are available.
- Her exact date of birth and current age.
- Whether she and her husband currently share a home (implied but not explicitly confirmed).
Quotes
“I have no symptoms.”
— Edwina Bartholomew, via ABC News
“I will be completely fine if I take care of myself.”
— Edwina Bartholomew, via 7NEWS
“I kept the diagnosis from my children because I did not need to have the conversation with them.”
— Edwina Bartholomew, via Yahoo Lifestyle Australia
“I want to spend time with my husband and children and make time for me time instead of just pretending to do so.”
— Edwina Bartholomew, via 7NEWS
These statements, from the presenter herself, provide the most direct insight into her mindset and priorities during this period.
Summary
Edwina Bartholomew’s public disclosure of CML has reframed her absence from Sunrise not as a departure but as a managed health adjustment. She continues to work part-time, remains a Leukaemia Foundation ambassador, and has kept her family life private. For fans and viewers, the takeaway is clear: she is not leaving the show, but her schedule has changed. Speculation about salary, replacement, and exact return dates should be met with healthy skepticism until official sources confirm them.
newidea.com.au, nowtolove.com.au, en.wikipedia.org, nowtolove.com.au, geo.tv, nowtolove.com.au
Frequently asked questions
Where is Edwina Bartholomew from?
She is an Australian journalist; her specific hometown is not publicly confirmed in the provided sources.
What is chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)?
CML is a slow-growing cancer of the blood and bone marrow. It is often managed with targeted oral medication (ABC News).
How many years has Edwina Bartholomew worked in television and radio?
More than 16 years (Leukaemia Foundation).
What is Edwina Bartholomew’s Instagram handle?
@edwina_b (Instagram).
How many Instagram followers does Edwina Bartholomew have?
237K followers (as of the top SERP result).
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Australian News Desk, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.