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Lisa Wilkinson announced shock resignation from Nine’s Today show

TODAY host Lisa Wilkinson has made the shock announcement she has quit the show, effective immediately.

Charis Chang and Liz Burke
4 min read
October 17, 2017 - 8:38AM
Lisa Wilkinson quits TODAY show after 10 years

TODAY host Lisa Wilkinson has made a shock announcement that she will quit the Nine Network program after 10 years and has taken a job with The Project.

The popular host broke the news of her departure in a statement on Twitter, telling viewers she had already had her last day on the breakfast show’s desk.

“I have some news, I’m sad to say that today was my last day on the Today show,” she wrote.

Wilkinson shared a statement from the network, confirming the network had “been unable to meet expectations” in negotiating the star’s contract.

MORE: Fans react to Lisa’s big move

Her swift departure is believed to have caught many by surprise at the Nine Network.

News of her resignation was quickly followed up by an announcement that Wilkinson had already secured another job with Network Ten.

In a statement released less than an hour later, Ten confirmed Wilkinson would be joining the network in a “senior hosting and editorial role effective January 2018”.

MORE: Karl Stefanovic’s eyewatering pay

Wilkinson will join Ten’s popular news and current affairs program The Project in a hosting role, as well as hosting The Sunday Project.

“Further collaborations between Lisa and Network Ten will be announced in the coming months,” the statement said.

The Project staff welcolmed Wilkinson on Twitter. Her husband Peter FitzSimons also said “That’s my Missus. Got a new job in 45 minutes!”

Lisa Wilkinson will take on an editorial role at an expanded version of The Project.
Lisa Wilkinson will take on an editorial role at an expanded version of The Project.
Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson turned the Today Show into a national success story. Picture: The Australian
Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson turned the Today Show into a national success story. Picture: The Australian

Network Ten chief content officer, Beverley McGarvey, said: “Lisa Wilkinson is one of the most respected journalists and television presenters in Australia and we are thrilled that she has agreed to join Network Ten’s fantastic stable of on-air talent.

“In a career that has spanned magazines, radio, television and digital media, Lisa has established her credentials as a leading figure in the Australian media industry. She has a great connection to the Australian public and a reputation that is second to none. We are proud that she has agreed to join the acclaimed team at The Project and The Sunday Project.”

In a later tweet, Wilkinson thanked people for the lovely messages she had received and said she was “absolutely thrilled” with her move to Ten.

In a statement confirming Wilkinson’s departure, Nine thanked the media veteran for her work.

“Nine today confirmed we have been unable to meet the expectations of Lisa Wilkinson and her manager on a contract renewal for a further period,” the statement read.

“We express our gratitude for Lisa for her 10 years with the Today show are disappointed we find ourselves in this position.

“Nine will be going in another direction and will be considering our options in coming weeks and months.”

The end of Karl and Lisa. Picture: Renee Nowytarger. The Australian
The end of Karl and Lisa. Picture: Renee Nowytarger. The Australian

Wilkinson’s sudden departure from the network follows reports she was unwilling to renew her contract with Nine until she was paid the same as co-host Karl Stefanovic, who is rumoured to be earning double her salary.

The Sunday Telegraph yesterday reported negotiations had “stalled” over Wilkinson’s two-year contract.

On Friday Nine denied negotiations were at an impasse and a spokeswoman said: “negotiations are continuing”.

Nine CEO Hugh Marks was believed to have been eager to re-sign the star whose popularity is at a peak.

In July, a portrait of Wilkinson by artist Peter Smeeth won the Packing Room prize at the Archibald Awards, a fact the artist put down “99 per cent” to Wilkinson’s appeal.

Wilkinson brought stability to the Today show when she joined the program back in May, 2007.

She was the fifth female co-host of the show in a tumultuous 18-month period.

At the time, Wilkinson was also considering an offer to join Channel Seven’s The Morning Show but a run-in with Stefanovic at that year’s Logies convinced her Today was the right choice.

“We made each other laugh,” Wilkinson told Stellar recently about her brief encounter with Stefanovic that night.

“I went to bed that night deciding I was going to do this thing.”

Lisa Wilkinson pictured with her dog Maggie. Source: Instagram
Lisa Wilkinson pictured with her dog Maggie. Source: Instagram

There was speculation Wilkinson may have seen the recent contract renegotiation as her last and best chance for pay parity with Stefanovic.

Just a few months ago, Today aired an emotional tribute to Wilkinson as she celebrated her 10-year anniversary on the show.

Today visited the Sydney suburb of Campbelltown where Wilkinson went to high school and aired a package of highlights from her decade on the breakfast show. Wilkinson’s husband Peter FitzSimons and three children also made an appearance.

Stefanovic led the emotional tributes by praising his long time co-host.

“Since you came along, it’s been a real honour and a privilege to work with you and to call you a friend who has been there through so much of everyone’s lives at home, but also our lives personally,” Stefanovic said to Wilkinson.

“The ups and downs, the overs and outs, you have been a constant source of friendship and of love and on a day like today, all I can do is salute you and thank you for being part of my life.”

Lisa Wilkinson with her co-stars during an episode of Today filmed live in Macarthur Square.
Lisa Wilkinson with her co-stars during an episode of Today filmed live in Macarthur Square.

Sylvia Jeffreys wiped away tears as she thanked Wilkinson for being an inspirational role model.

Wilkinson was also emotional as she thanked her co-hosts and described her involvement with the show as “an incredible privilege”. She said it was a job she would never imagined she would be lucky enough to have.

“It is such a privilege to wake up with all of you, every single morning, and the feedback that we get and the encouragement that we get from you means everything to us. It is why we keep getting up at an ungodly hour every day, as does the entire crew on the show,” she said.

Reactions to Wilkinson’s departure are already rolling in with many suggesting it is a huge loss for Nine. ABC presenters Leigh Sales, Juanita Phillips and Jamila Rizvi all praised Wilkinson on Twitter.

Wilkinson will join The Project in January 2018.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/lisa-wilkinson-announced-shock-resignation-from-nines-today-show/news-story/716a3e6d78b661ba2bb2dec15069a959