Today’s Deb Knight opens up after dismal ratings and Karl Stefanovic

Deb Knight says she will let others worry about the dismal ratings after the new look Today show copped its worst viewing figures in a decade. She has also opened up about axed co-host Karl Stefanovic.

• New-look Today smashed in ratings, worst in decade
• Big question Today missed

Deb Knight says she will let others worry about the dismal ratings after the new look Today show copped its worst viewing figures in a decade.

Nine’s much trumpeted new line-up of Knight replacing Karl Stefanovic proved to be a disaster after ratings figures show a 17 per cent drop off the start with Today launching for the year yesterday.

Today registered a national capital city audience of just 197,000, compared to Channel 7’s Sunrise at 266,000 and way down on Today’s annual average of 236,000 last year when Stefanovic was in the hosting chair.

In comparison, the Daily Telegraph’s average daily print readership is 825,000.

Brooke Boney, Tom Steinfort, Deb Knight, Georgie Gardner and Tony Jones. Picture: Alex Coppel

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“That is for others to work at and worry about my job is just turning up and being me,” Knight told Confidential on Sunday, ahead of yesterday’s first episode.

“I try to limit the impact that the chatter and the white noise has on me. You’ve just got to focus on the job at hand. I am trying to focus on getting this right and enjoy the ride as much as I can rather than be intimidated by it.”

Knight is new to the show alongside Georgie Gardner, who is the only surviving member of the breakfast line-up from 2018.

Stefanovic was ruthlessly dumped days after his wedding in December while still on his honeymoon while younger brother Peter was sacked from hosting Weekend Today.

Tom Steinfort and Deborah Knight. Picture: Jamie Hanson

Richard Wilkins and Sylvia Jeffreys were also moved on from the show while sports reporter Tim Gilbert was axed from the network entirely.

Tom Steinfort, Brooke Boney and Tony Jones sit alongside Knight and Gardner in the new line-up.

Fans have not been happy and took to social media to slam the new look as more of the same when Today began for the year broadcasting from the Australian Open in Melbourne.

The ratings figures, which are a 10 year low for Today, will come as a major blow for Nine, which last year signed a deal to broadcast the Australian Open until 2024 for more than $300 million.

Deb shared the same manager as Karl. Picture: Jenny Evans

“There are a lot of new elements that are going on and a lot of scrutiny,” Knight said.

“My focus is doing my job the very best that I can do. I don’t want to be somebody I am not and I don’t want to be impacted by the nerves, I know I will be but people know me as being a very down to earth person and that is what I am going to bring to the show.”

As for ongoing scrutiny outside the show, with intense interest in the lives of the breakfast TV hosts, Knight said: “My life is not that interesting. I don’t offer much fodder. I am a mum with young kids, I am a journo and I have this amazing opportunity with my career and that is my focus.”

Knight shares a manager with Stefanovic in Sharon Finnegan and the pair have been friends for many years.

“Karl has wished me all the best and wished me luck and I have done the same to him,” she said. “We are journo mates from way back. He is a good friend and will continue to be so.”

The old Today crew.