Deborah Knight lets her guard down as co-host of Channel Nine’s Weekend Today show

DEBORAH Knight is learning to share. After 15 years of presenting straitlaced TV news, she is revealing another side to her on Weekend Today.

DEBORAH Knight is learning to share. After 15 years presenting straitlaced TV news, the 42-year-old has blossomed as co-host of Weekend Today.

Last month Knight officially replaced Leila McKinnon as the Channel 9 breakfast show’s co-host alongside Cameron Williams.

McKinnon wanted to spend more time with husband, and Nine CEO, David Gyngell and two children, Gwendolen and Ted.

Weekend Today has allowed Knight to loosen up and show more of her personality. Now she is getting comfortable sharing details of her life with viewers.

Knight and husband Lindsay Dunbar have two young children, Darcy, 6, and Elsa, 4.

More relaxed ... TV personality Deborah Knight in her backyard at home in Sydney. Picture: Richard Dobson

“I’m a mum and I’ve got my battles with child care and all the things that every mum and family goes through,” Knight says.

“I went through IVF with my kids and I’ve been very open talking about that. If you realise you’re not alone going through certain things in your life then it is really good to know that you can share and help people out.

“You are in their homes when they are getting ready to start their day. It is an intimate relationship that you have with the viewers.”

Knight spent 11 years as a newsreader and reporter at Ten before joining Nine four years ago. She reports for Inside Story and presents the 11am and 4.30pm news bulletins, so the fun of Weekend Today is a tonic.

Welcome back @camjwilliams! @deborah_knight @Wendy_Kingston @cstanaway & sneaky photobomb from crew, Jared #Today9 pic.twitter.com/jNsD7OXQwv

— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) February 6, 2015

“At the weekend, people are at home in more of a relaxed mode, so we try to reflect that in the content of the show,” Knight says.

“As a straight news reader you have to have your guard up to some degree (but on Weekend Today) like to embrace the ridiculousness of life.

“Because of the show, people know that I’m not a great singer. I’ve had to do a trapeze act, done the tough mudder challenge, and even dared to do ghosting — walk behind people randomly at a shopping centre without them knowing.

Loving mum ... Deborah Knight at home and her four year old daughter Elsa. Picture: Jeremy Piper

“The feedback from viewers is that it is great to see me out of my comfort zone and showing a bit more of my sense of fun.”

Knight says she and husband Lindsay have managed to sort a plan to get the right work-life balance right despite her weekend work.

“Because my Darcy is in year one at school and Elsa is in preschool and child care, it actually works really well for me to work on weekends,” Knight says.

“I spend large chunks of the week with my kids and get to do the school drop-off and pick-up. On weekends my husband picks up the ball and handles the kids in the morning.

“The only thing I miss out on is the Saturday morning soccer — which some would argue is a good thing.”

Weekend Today, Channel 9, Saturday and Sunday, 7am.