Georgie Gardner has broken her silence after shock news that Karl Stefanovic will replace her on the Today show.
It has been confirmed that Stefanovic will return to Nine’s Today in 2020 with Allison Langdon by his side.
WATCH: Deborah Knight and Tom Steinfort give Georgie Gardner awkward send-off following news of Karl’s return
“I am as shocked about this as everyone else,” Karl told The Sydney Morning Herald on Friday.
“It’s not something I thought would ever come up again. I thought my time was up, but then, when I was sounded out about it, it got me thinking. It’s a big job with enormous pressures and I know only too well some of those pitfalls, but it is also without question the best live TV job in Australia.”
Now Gardner – who hosts the breakfast TV show alongside Deborah Knight – has spoken out about the shock move.
“I was consulted two weeks ago about the future direction of the Today Show and naturally I’m disappointed with the outcome,” she told 9Now.
She continued: “However I’m very proud to have been part of an innovative and progressive programming decision – the first female hosting duo in Australian breakfast television.”
The 49-year-old also revealed she plans to catch up on some much needed sleep.
“My plan now is to return to my first love, news, and to catch up on some sleep! I am grateful for the support and friendship offered by my Today Show colleagues on-air and behind the scenes and I am humbled by the unwavering loyalty and kindness of viewers.”
Darren Wick, Nine’s new boss, told The SMH: “[It was] a bold decision to try something new with two women hosting … and sadly that has not worked.”
Karl unceremoniously dumped by the Nine Network while on his honeymoon with his second wife Jasmine Yarbrough in December, Nine’s cash cow will return after ratings slumped on the breakfast show in his absence.
It has been rumoured that 45-year-old Stefanovic will reportedly face a large pay cut (a significantly lower salary than he had over the 14 years he worked on the Today show). While the star has one year left on his contract and is sitting at an excess of $2m a year, he will be forced to give up “hundreds of thousands of dollars” to return to the program, the publication reports.
Allison, his third co-star in as many years, said: “We are great mates but I don’t always agree with everything that he says … and he knows that. I can promise you, we won’t be boring.”
The latter part of her statement sounded like a dig to Georgie and Deb, who failed to win over viewers. Indeed, many of Today’s viewers turned over to Seven’s Sunrise last year, but will Karl be able to turn them back? Only time will tell.
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