Lisa, Karl return the love.

The Today show team gathered at Vue De Monde atop the Rialto in Melbourne last night, ahead of their Cup fever broadcast today.

In attendance were Lisa Wilkinson, Karl Stefanovic, Richard Wilkins, Steve Jacobs, Richard Reid, plus Emma Freedman, Christine Ahern, Neil Breen, Mark Calvert and media. Georgie Gardner and Ben Fordham were flying in on later flights.

After a bout of media articles about behind the scenes tiffs, Stefanovic and Wilkinson were eager to put talk of tension behind them. Even holding hands at one point and joking about it. But it seemed pretty genuine.

“Melbourne was the first market to switch to the Today show many years ago when we were down and out on the streets,” said Stefanovic.

“You were on the streets,” joked Lisa. “I was on the other team. And then I thought ‘Gee there’s a guy on the street who needs some looking after.'”

Stefanovic continued, “It’s been seven years and Lisa and I have never been more excited about what’s coming. It’s been a challenging year but we’ve come out the other side and we’re so excited about what we’re doing with the show, where we’re going with the show, and what’s about to happen with the show. Both of us are tremendously pumped about the end of this year and also next year.

“I was at the speech Lisa gave at the Andrew Olle Lecture the other night and I think it was a landmark speech for women in this country in media. I was inspired, in awe and forevermore grateful that I get to work with her everyday.”

Wilkinson was quick to reciprocate.

“Almost everyone has said to me, ‘Why do you love working with Karl?  Because it’s so obvious every morning we tune in and we can see this incredible rapport you two have,’ ” she said.

“The bizarre thing is that after 7 years, like any good strong marriage, we are passionate people and we have strong conversations just about every single day. But the love I have for this man is absolutely boundless and I genuinely learn something from this man, every single day, as a newsman as a news gatherer, as someone who has the most incredible sense of what Australia wants to hear every single morning. I in turn learn from Karl every single day, and the wider team of everybody who sits on the couch.”

There was even a nod to TEN’s upcoming Wake Up show.

“We know that the breakfast television market is expanding -and this is not us blowing smoke- we genuinely feel that this is great because it brings more focus to breakfast TV. We think it’s the best slot on television. Certainly when you work in breakfast TV you realise what an incredible gift it is,” Wilkinson said.

Today airs 5:30 am weekdays on Nine.