The Today show’s brand new line-up has debuted on Nine, heralding a new era of the show which lost all but one of its high-profile stars and its executive producer at the end of last year.
Addressing the shake-up at the top of the show on Monday, co-host Georgie Gardner — the only host to survive the 2018 bloodletting — described it as “the very first day of a new era on Nine, with a new-look Today show team”.
Deb Knight, who was named as Karl Stefanovic’s replacement earlier this month, admitted it felt like “the first day of school”.
“Thankfully I’m not the only one on the desk who feels like the first day of school. I have new members of the team — and welcome to Tom Steinfort and Brooke Boney and Tony Jones,” she said.
The show is currently broadcasting from the Australian Open in Melbourne.
Today’s mass exodus began with executive producer Mark Calvert stepping down in early December after five years in the role, amid rumoured “tension” with Stefanovic.
Ironically, Stefanovic was the next to go, with Nine delivering the news of his sacking while he was still on honeymoon with new wife Jasmine Yarbrough. The shock move came after months of mounting pressure due to horror ratings and a steady stream of negative publicity surrounding the high-profile TV presenter.
Just days later, long-time entertainment correspondent Richard Wilkins revealed he would be focusing on morning program Today Extra in 2019, clearing a path for former Triple J journalist Brooke Boney to join the Today panel, while Tom Steinfort was announced to take over newsreader Sylvia Jeffreys’ role.
Sports reporter Tim Gilbert was the last casualty of new executive producer Steven Burling’s refresh, and was replaced by Melbourne sports journalist Tony Jones.
It’s hoped the new-look panel will lure viewers back from Channel 7’s hit Sunrise program.
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