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Karl Stefanovic, Allison Langdon confirmed for Today

Updated: Karl & Allison Langdon take on Today from 2020 as Georgie Gardner returns to news.

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Updated: It’s happening.

Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon will take over as Today hosts in 2020, (a pairing which TV Tonight first tipped back on October 16).

The move follows unsustainable ratings for the team of Georgie Gardner, Deborah Knight and Tom Steinfort.

Nine News boss Darren Wick said, “Georgie is a person of great integrity who has given everything for the past two years in hosting one of the most demanding and high profile shows on television. She’s loved and admired by her colleagues and she cares passionately about the stories she tells.

“We took a bold decision to try something new with two women hosting the Today Show this year and regrettably that has not worked for the audience.”

Karl Stefanovic said, “The show and the audience make me feel alive. I’m up for the fight and I want to fight for our audience. Ally is her own confident, capable woman and I will be there to help her any step of the way but we are equals in this fight and I feel confident in our partnership.

“We’re both good journalists and we both love a laugh.”

“There is a lot of hard work ahead but I can tell you one thing, it’s not going to be boring! I love the unpredictability of live TV… and Karl,” said Langdon.

“Wind him up and let him go! I’m sure we’ll butt heads, but we’ll do it with a smile on our face. I just want to help our viewers get their day off to a good, fun start.”

Georgie Gardner will return to News roles next year and will not return to Today.

“I was consulted two weeks ago about the future direction of the Today Show, and naturally I’m disappointed with the outcome,” she said.

“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.”

“It was a privilege to work on the Today Show for nine years, I learned a lot. I have no regrets, even though the scrutiny and public discourse has been daunting and disproportionate. It’s also at times been cruel,” said Gardner.

“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.

“They have made my job more rewarding than they will ever know.

“I leave with fond memories and wish the new team every success. See you on a TV screen in 2020.”

Tom Steinfort and entertainment reporters Richard Wilkins and Brooke Boney, will remain with Nine with Wick saying the full line up of Today in 2020 “will be announced in due course”.

Nine is yet to comment on roles for Deborah Knight or Tony Jones.

With Langdon moving from Weekend Today, and Sonia Kruger departing Today Extra for Seven, there are also further Nine roles to fill.

Stefanovic and Langdon are due to start in early January at Nine’s Willoughby studios before Nine relocates to North Sydney later in 2020.

Source: 9now.com.au

Photo: Instagram

61 Responses

  1. Is Nine actually serious?!? They’ve completely run out of lives.
    They must think we’re idiots, living with the same short-term memory they live and program by.
    Georgie and Deb actually had a ‘real’ connection with the audience, unlike Karl. He wants to come across that he actually cares, but he doesn’t. He’s far too arrogant for that.
    I hope Seven or Ten snap up Georgie – she’s wasted at Nine.

  2. I doubt Stefanovic will turn things around. He was tired and couldn’t keep stop the bleeding when Lisa left. Never go back! There must already be bad blood with network execs. Are we supposed to just forget the way he fired on his honeymoon and how bad things got? The show was a mess after Lisa left, at least she was able to somewhat contain his endless “wacky hi-jinks”. Karl is not the answer – maybe very short-term, but no, this will not work. Lisa would have been a better option, but I bet she wouldn’t touch Today with a barge pole.

  3. They should have broken the mould and done something nobody would expect.
    Amanda Keller & Andrew Denton would be great. They have good chemistry having previously worked together for years on a breakfast show in the same timeslot, and a good balance.

  4. Congrats to Georgie and Deb for their efforts, when watching Today during the Aus Open I really enjoyed the team’s sense of fun. They’ve done a great job.

  5. I tried to watch Today and missed some of the fireworks recently, but my impression was it had all the warmth and chemistry of a surgical sterile room.

    Here’s the “dream team” Nine Brekfast cast from Nine for next year – an all male “boofhead” cast bringing back Karl Stephanovic and Richard Wilkins to join with Tom Steinfort and Tony Jones. Send them all out to the pub every night and roll them out with hair of the dog the next morning!

    Sounds dreadful but at least would be a point of differentiation from the suburban mum and dad show over on Seven, and ABC Melbourne Breakfast.

    My recommendation is to turn on SBS and watch This Week with George Stephanopolis or the BBC News – much more interesting and informative without having to put up with news about the Kardashians….

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