Carrie Bickmore $5 to replace Lisa Wilkinson on Today

BOOKIES are offering odds of $5 of Carrie Bickmore completing the biggest role reversal in Australian TV history. But she’s not the raging favourite.

BOOKIES offering odds of $5 of Carrie Bickmore completing the biggest role reversal in Australian TV history and replacing Lisa Wilkinson as host of Today.

Wilkinson stunned the TV world on Monday night when she announced she was quitting Channel Nine and subsequently announced she would join Bickmore as the host of The Project, based in Melbourne, on rival network Ten.

The bombshell has sent speculation into overdrive into just who will replace Wilkinson as host of Today after her 10-year run.

Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson. Picture: The Australian

Stefanovic thanks Wilkinson for her 10 years as co-host.

Lisa Wilkinson leaves home today. Picture: John Grainger

The current favourite, according to bookmaker Sportsbet, is Today newsreader Sylvia Jeffreys, who is $2.10 to assume the seat.

“Sylvia is in the box seat to replace Lisa but there’s plenty of other contenders in the market should Nine want a completely new revamp of the show,” Sportsbet’s Will Byrne.

Jeffreys is married to co-host Karl Stefanovic’s brother, Peter.

Deb Knight took the co-host seat alongside Stefanovic this morning after Wilkinson’s sudden departure.

Carrie Bickmore on the set of The Project Picture: Richard Dobson

She is considered a $3.50 second chance in the next Today host market with Bickmore next favourite.

Rebecca Maddern, who is co-host of The Footy Show as well as hosting Australian Ninja Warrior, is at $8, while the value might be former Today newsreader Georgie Gardner at $13.

It’s a long list of possible contenders, which includes the likes of Chris Bath ($15), Emma Freedman ($20) and even Ita Buttrose ($41).

Sophie Monk, who is currently the star of Channel Ten’s The Bachelorette, is an $81 shot, while the rank outsiders are American talk show icons Oprah Winfrey at $251 and Ellen DeGeneres at $501.

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