Nine newsreader Sylvia Jeffreys says she’s learnt how to ‘dodge Karl Stefanovic bullets’

EXCLUSIVE: She’s five months into her new gig as Today’s newsreader, but Sylvia Jeffreys’ new gig is even harder when you remember she’s working with her potential brother-in-law.

BESIDES the dreaded 3.08am alarm each day, Sylvia Jeffreys says the hardest part of her job as Nine’s morning newsreader is dodging bullets from her own colleague, Karl Stefanovic.

Unfortunately for Jeffreys, who is five months into her new gig at Nine, Stefanovic also happens to be her potential brother-in-law, which means he was never going to go easy on her.

Being the brother of Jeffreys’ partner of almost a year Peter Stefanovic, the Today show larrikin is not one to toe the line on set.

“Karl famously enjoys awkward moments. He likes to throw out some awkward, inappropriate lines just to see how we deal with them,” the 28-year-old told news.com.au.

“I’ve become a bit of a character in the Matrix, dodging Karl Stefanovic bullets, ducking and diving.”

Sylvia Jeffreys doesn't like Vegemite, but Karl wasn’t having a bar of it.

Does he give her more flack than usual for dating a family member? “Without a doubt I get more from Karl, but so does Pete and we’re both very good at a poker face,” Jeffreys said.

“We’re both pretty private people and Karl knows where the line is and to stick to one side of it,” she added of her relationship with Nine’s London-based correspondent.

The pair have been dating for almost a year and Jeffreys confirmed the relationship speculation after replacing Georgie Gardner back in June.

“I don’t know where the last five months have gone, for the first time I’m in a Monday to Friday routine,” she said of her whirlwind year, adding that the morning alarm goes off at 3.08am, with two back-up alarms set for 3.09am and 3.10am just in case.

“I’ve never really been a night owl, I’m always to bed early, usually by about 7.30pm.”

Georgie Gardner's last day at Nine’s Today with her replacement Sylvia Jeffreys.

Something that has surprised Jeffreys in her new role is the increased level of scrutiny surrounding her public persona, and while she’s been warmly embraced by Today show viewers, she says she tends to avoid too much social media.

“If I know that there’s going to be a lot of senseless bagging I will do my best to avoid it.

“Facebook is probably the biggest breeding ground for negativity. I flat out don’t expose myself to the [Today] Facebook page.”

With plenty reminding the newsreader she had “big shoes to fill” when she took up the role back in June, Jeffreys said one golden piece of advice from her predecessor was all she needed.

“Georgie said just to be myself. A lot of people asked me how I could fill her shoes, but there was no point trying to fill her shoes, I could only do it my way. Our viewers can pick a faker a mile off.

“You can’t make three-and-a-half hours of live television every day if you’re not being real, so I just try to enjoy the ride.”

Doing long distance: Sylvia Jeffreys and Peter Stefanovic.

As for the never-ending ratings war between Australia’s morning shows and recent talk that Today is looking a little tired, Jeffreys seemed unfazed by the chatter and simply said her team intends to stick to their guns and continue to deliver the news.

“I think it would be impossible for our team to be more connected, we’re a complete unit at the moment and we feel that on set.

“We’ve had some of the best numbers we’ve had all year recently and at the end of the day everyone knows that in TV these things go in swings and roundabouts but all we can do is stick to our formula and do what we do best, which is news.”

Touch wood, there’s been no on air mishaps or wardrobe malfunctions making headlines but Jeffreys admits, “you’re on the edge of your seat at all times because anything can happen.”

Something tells us if she ever does slip up on national television, Karl will be right there beside her to up the awkwardness.

Sylvia Jeffreys says she loves her new job more and more every day.