Today’s 25th anniversary tour

Nine’s Today show is about to turn 25 and is planning a whirlwind tour of the country presenting programmes from Perth to Brisbane.

The team will criss-cross the country to host programmes from 5 cities in 5 days.

The first Today featured Steve Liebmann and Sue Kellaway on June 28 1982. After leaving the show in four years’ time, George Negus took over. Liebmann later returned to co-host with Liz Hayes and Tracy Grimshaw until Karl Stefanovic took over in 2005. And as for the ladies joining him, well let’s just say Lisa Wilkinson is now sitting beside him.

Today’s 25th anniversary tour will visit:

Monday June 25 – Perth, outside Burswood Casino

Tuesday June 26 – Adelaide, outside the State Library

Wednesday June 27 – Brisbane, Southbank

Thursday June 28 – Sydney, at the Opera House

Friday June 29 – Federation Square in Melbourne

Press Release:

On Thursday June 28, TODAY turns 25. It was on this day in 1982, that Steve Liebmann and Sue Kellaway first spoke the words “Good morning, Welcome to Today”. Since then, TODAY has broadcast more than 6,000 shows.

To celebrate, TODAY is going Around Australia: Five cities in five days. The entire show will broadcast from Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne in the last week of June.

“This is a huge logistical undertaking as no-one has ever attempted this in Australian breakfast television history,” TODAY’s executive producer Tom Malone said. “We are taking the show to the people of Australia”.

TODAY will start in Perth on Monday June 25 outside Burswood Casino, with an additional two hours especially for the Western Australian audience. The team will then move to Adelaide and Brisbane.

On June 28, TODAY will arrive in Sydney and will broadcast from the Opera House steps, with special appearances from former hosts.

Making her on-air debut today, co-host Lisa Wilkinson said: “Sydney is where it all began, so you can’t get a better landmark than the Opera House to celebrate our birthday.”

And TODAY will wrap up the week from Federation Square in Melbourne on Friday June 29. TODAY co-host Karl Stefanovic said the people of Melbourne have led TODAY’s recent ratings resurgence in that city.

“We want to thank Melbourne for its strong support, giving us ratings victories for the past four weeks,” he said.

TODAY has made significant gains on Sunrise in the past year. Across the five capital cities, TODAY is up 11.6 per cent, while Sunrise is down 10.8 per cent.

Mr Malone said he wanted to thank major sponsor Sanitarium and entertainment sponsor SONY BMG, who have helped make the week-long event possible.

“Sanitarium will be putting on a special Weetbix breakfast for everyone at our broadcasts, and SONY BMG will be unveiling some huge musical acts who will play live on the show,’’ he said.