Georgie Gardner leads race to join wake up with Today, after Lisa Wilkinson’s shock exit

GEORGIE Gardner is tipped to be the replacement for Lisa Wilkinson on Today. But will an outsider beat her to morning TV’s top job?

EXCLUSIVE: GEORGIE Gardner looks the woman most likely to replace former Today co-star Lisa Wilkinson, after poor polling of a Sylvia Jeffreys and Karl Stefanovic combination.

Gardner — believed to be on a lucrative contract from the generous days under ex-CEO David Gyngell — is reportedly seen at Nine as the safe, older option to fill Wilkinson’s shoes, with the news credentials to match Stefanovic.

Channel 9 news reader Georgie Gardner leaving The Today Show.

The 47-year-old also reportedly tested better with viewers than the affable and accomplished Jeffreys, 30, Stefanovic’s sister-in-law and the show’s incumbent newsreader.

Sylvia Jeffreys reportedly did not test as well with viewers.

Gardner left Today in 2014, after 12 years on the breakfast show, moving to read the weekend news and report occasionally for 60 Minutes.

Current Today fill-in Deborah Knight, who comes off contract with Nine at the end of this year, is thought to be interested in the daily role, making the step up from her Weekend Today duties; as is former Seven News anchor and recent ABC radio presenter, Chris Bath.

Chris Bath is believed to be interested in the role.

Allison Langdon, who recently welcomed her first child, Mack with TV presenter Mike Willessee Jr, could be another internal dark horse, allowing both her and Stefanovic to juggle daily desk duties on the show, as well as reporting for 60 Minutes.

Current Today fill-in Deborah Knight is thought to be interested in the role.

Langdon had a six-month stint on Today when Gardner went on maternity leave back in 2007.

Sunrise newsreader Natalie Barr is also believed to have begun negotiations for a new deal with Seven’s breakfast show next year, but could now be a prime target for cross-channel poaching.

A Nine insider said the network was “not going to be rushed” to replace Wilkinson, with news boss Darren Wick stating Today would need to take a new direction.

“We are not sure what that direction will be,” he said.

Allison Langdon could be another internal dark horse for the role.

Meanwhile, in another day of on-air changes for Nine, Erin Molan will replace Paul ‘Fatty’ Vautin as the host of The Footy Show next year, but is likely to be paired with former Sky sports presenter James Bracey in a youthful rebranding of the long-running NRL program.

Molan, rumoured to have signed a $400,000 contract with Nine last year, has earned her rise through the TV ranks, as well as high praise and an ACRA award for best new radio talent after topping up her salary with a gig on 2GB’s Continuous Call Team.

It was only 12 months ago Molan and her former footy stablemate, turned Fox Sports star Yvonne Sampson were being forced to travel economy while their better paid male colleagues, including Vautin and Beau Ryan (believed to be on a $700,000 deal) were booked on the same flights in business class.

The Footy Show’s long-running executive producer Glenn Pallister will also leave the show, with Nine’s head of sport Tom Malone taking control of the program.