Lisa Wilkinson has spoken out about Karl Stefanovic’s shock return to the Today show.
Now a star on Channel 10’s The Project, Wilkinson sensationally left the breakfast TV show following a pay dispute.
WATCH: Deborah Knight and Tom Steinfort give Georgie Gardner awkward send-off following Karl Stefanovic’s return
Now the 59-year-old says she wishes Karl – who is returning to the show alongside Weekend Today’s Allison Langdon – the best of luck.
“Look I was surprised because he now knows what it’s like to sleep past that 3AM alarm but he clearly feels like there’s some unfinished business so I can’t wish those guys anything but luck,” Lisa told Hit105’s Stav, Abby and Matt show.
“They’ve obviously had a pretty tough couple of years so, look I wish them well and you do know the pain of that 3AM alarm and you’re still prepared to do the hard yard. I wish them luck.”
When asked about their relationship, Lisa maintains that despite reports to the contrary, “there was no falling out”.
“Karl and I still text each other, we still see each other from time to time,” Lisa said.
“He is hopeless at catching up. He’ll say ‘let’s have dinner on Saturday night’ and then you don’t hear from him again. So Karl, I’m still waiting for dinner.”
Karl confirmed his return recently, telling the Sydney Morning Herald that the news has “shocked” him more than anyone.
“I am as shocked about this as everyone else,” he told the publication.
“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.”
While Karl gets ready for his return as co-host, it’s come to light that he’s agreed to forfeit a third of his salary package, according to The Daily Telegraph.
Karl’s last contract, negotiated in December 2015 with Nine’s then new CEO Hugh Marks, included a $1 million dollar “image bonus” and part of — or all of which — could be withheld by bosses should he fail to achieve standards expected of him, well-placed sources told the publication.
A Nine insider told the publication on Sunday that bosses likely used this clause to “slash” his contract after he was axed from the Today show in December 2018.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
