Karl Stefanovic’s massive federal election coverage snub revealed

Karl Stefanovic has been dealt an awkward new blow, just days after he denied rumours he was preparing to exit the Today show.

Karl Stefanovic has been ditched from Channel 9’s election night coverage – despite grilling the nation’s pollies on an almost daily basis on Today.

According to The Australian’s Media Diary column, Stefanovic and his co-host Allison Langdon were reportedly snubbed by the network after applying for the coveted gig of leading the network’s coverage on the big day on May 21.

Their regular interviews with Australian leaders was allegedly a major part of their pitch – but wasn’t enough to get the pair over the line, Nick Tabakoff reports.

That’s despite the fact that Stefanovic also managed to pull off major interviews with both Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Labor leader Anthony Albanese in the lead up to the election for 60 Minutes – including Mr Morrison’s now-infamous ukulele stunt.

Today Show hosts Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon regularly grill leaders on Today – but it wasn’t enough to get them across the line. Picture: Channel 9

Instead, Nine has confirmed that the network’s election coverage will be fronted by stalwart Peter Overton, and Alicia Loxley, who replaces Deb Knight, who covered the 2019 election with Overton.

Bill Shorten and Julie Bishop have also been recruited as expert guests on the night.

The latest controversy comes just days after Stefanovic hit back at persistent rumours he was preparing to walk away from hosting Today, telling 3AW’s Neil Mitchell the claims were “absolutely bullsh*t”.

The rumour mill went into overdrive last month when Women’s Day reported Stefanovic would be leaving his hosting role at Today in favour of a less stressful behind-the-scenes position, as well as prioritising his work with 60 Minutes.

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese had a beer with Karl Stefanovic during an interview on 60 Minutes on Sunday, March 13.

At the time, it was claimed that the supposed move would allow him to spend more time with wife Jasmine and their young daughter Harper, as well as his three children with ex-wife Cassandra Thorburn.

But 3AW said the report was “utter nonsense, make believe”.

News.com.au contacted Channel 9 for further comment, after a source told The Australian: “We have an abundance of talent at the network who could have done a great job” with the upcoming election coverage.

Stefanovic was famously axed from Today after a 15-year stint in 2018, following a significant dip in ratings after the exit of Lisa Wilkinson and a spate of tabloid scrutiny over Stefanovic’s increasingly messy private life.

Fallout from details of an embarrassing phone call between Stefanovic and his brother Peter were leaked to New Idea and were believed to have contributed.

However, he was reinstated just a year later as his replacements Deb Knight and Georgie Gardner failed to deliver on ratings.