Karl Stefanovic confirms he was ‘upset’ by Nine election coverage snub

Karl Stefanovic has confirmed he was overlooked to host the network’s election coverage, admitting he was left hurt by the decision.

Karl Stefanovic has confirmed he was snubbed by Channel 9 to host its prime time election coverage.

The 47-year-old veteran TV journalist, who has hosted Today since 2005, candidly told former Sunrise rival Samantha Armytage on her podcast that he was “upset” at being overlooked for the coveted gig.

Despite a reportedly strong pitch by Stefanovic and his breakfast co-host Allison Langdon to be the faces of the May 21 bulletin, Nine instead went with stalwart presenter Peter Overton and Melbourne newsreader Alicia Loxley.

Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon were snubbed for Nine’s election coverage.

Speaking on Stellar podcast Something to Talk About with Samantha Armytage, Stefanovic admitted the snub was disappointing.

“I was upset that I didn’t host the election … It’s kind of like doing all the preliminary games for two years and then missing out on the Super Bowl,” he said.

“But it’s not something you need to articulate in a particularly public fashion: ‘I was really shitty.’ No, no.

“When you’ve been in broadcasting as long as I have, you’re going to get some gigs, you’re not going to get them all.

“You think about it for a while and you go, other people make those decisions … I’ll just stay at home and [shrug it off].”

Langdon, 43, was reportedly particularly “aggrieved” over the snub, with Daily Telegraph columnist Annette Sharp reporting in mid-May that the TV host had “vented her frustration” to Nine’s director of news Darren Wick.

On the podcast, Stefanovic argued the duo had done “an enormous amount of work” ahead of the election, including interviewing political figures on the show every day during the campaign.

Stefanovic also managed to pull off major interviews with both Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese in the lead up to the election for 60 Minutes.

Karl admitted he was “upset” by the snub. Picture: David Geraghty / The Australian

“I’m very proud of what we did day in, day out. And while I might be upset, you’ve got to put your big boy pants on and go to work the next day and get on with it,” Stefanovic added.

An honour he wasn’t overlooked for however was this year’s Logies, with Stefanovic up for the Gold Logie.

It’s the third time he’s been nominated, having won the Gold back in 2011.

Originally published as Karl Stefanovic confirms he was ‘upset’ by Nine election coverage snub