Today hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sylvia Jeffreys react to Lisa Wilkinson’s shock exit

LISA Wilkinson’s former colleagues gave her a send-off after her stunning resignation last night. Some were on the verge of tears.

THE Today show has aired emotional tributes to Lisa Wilkinson, with Karl Stefanovic and Sylvia Jeffreys struggling to hold back tears as they thanked their departed host and admitted the news would take “time to sink in.”

Behind the scenes though, there’s no doubt it was coming off the back of a stressful few hours at Nine HQ in Willoughby, with the network scrambling to fill the gaping hole left by Wilkinson following her abrupt public resignation last night.

Weekend Today host Deborah Knight was given the last-minute call-up, but hers is likely to only be a temporary remedy and begs the question: Who in the world will replace Lisa Wilkinson?

It’s widely believed contract negotiations between the network and the Today star had stalled over the past week after Nine refused to double her salary to give her equal pay to Stefanovic.

Less than an hour after tweeting the news, Wilkinson revealed she was defecting to Ten to join The Project, on what entertainment reporter Peter Ford revealed to news.com.au is a four-year deal which has already been approved by Ten’s incoming CBS bosses.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Wilkinson’s new deal with Ten is understood to be worth in excess of $2 million, although Ford claims she’d “be lucky to be getting a million [dollars].”

After dropping those bombshells on Twitter last night, Wilkinson re-emerged earlier today to share a public exchange with former Sunrise host Melissa Doyle.

Wilkinson sets up a dinner date with Melissa Doyle.

She was seen leaving her home in Cremorne a short time later, beaming at photographers as she passed them in the driveway.

Lisa Wilkinson had a big smile for the cameras. Picture: John Grainger

Meanwhile over on Today, an emotional Stefanovic thanked Wilkinson for their decade behind the desk together during a tribute to the former host.

“For 10 years, Lisa has dragged herself out of bed at 3:30 in the morning, fed the dogs and cats, put a load of washing on and came into work to inform you of what was happening in the world,” he began.

“For 10 years, she handled the brutal hours with grace, beauty and intelligence and a wicked sense of humour. For whatever reason she won’t be doing that anymore. It is safe to say we are all a little shocked and it will take time to sink in.

“So for now this: Thank you. Thank you for the laughs, the sage advice, the calmness, oh, the calmness. And thank you for all of your support. Thank you for being a great colleague. Thanks for being a great interviewer. Thanks for being a great dancer and a truly, truly terrible singer. Thanks for being a great mum. I know you value that more than anything else and thank you for being a great friend.

“The rest I will leave for when I see you but whatever you do, and wherever you go, you do so having made your mark on this show and on this man.

“Mostly you go with my love, lots of love, all my love. We will see you soon, maybe after midday. Enjoy the sleep-ins.”

Sylvia Jeffreys was struggling to hold back tears as she paid tribute to her former co-star, who she credited with being an inspiration to girls and women all over the country.

“It has been an enormous, a tremendous privilege to share a part of Lisa’s Today show experience and it is a tremendous privilege to share a beautiful friendship with her and I know that continues for a very long time to come,” she said.

“I did speak with Lisa last night and I thanked her and I congratulated her because ultimately this is an exciting time. It is the start of a brilliant and exciting new chapter and I will be cheering her on as I always do as she takes on this next challenge.

“Here is the thing — seeing is believing for young girls and for young women and what they see in Lisa is a strong, influential, fun and compassionate woman at the very, very top of her game and that is a very powerful thing.”

Stefanovic paid tribute to his longtime co-host.

Jeffreys struggled to hold back tears.

Earlier in the show, things had gotten a little awkward when the hosts turned to the “news of the day” during their regular segment covering the front pages of all the top newspapers — all of which featured Wilkinson.

Reading them out, Stefanovic admitted: “It came as a bit of a shock to us.”

He certainly looked to be taking the news hard shortly after it broke on Monday night, as he was seen stony-faced while out with his girlfriend Jasmine Yarbrough.

Stefanovic was seen looking very solemn. Picture: Diimex

Stefanovic arrives at the Nine studio following Wilkinson’s shock resignation. Picture: Bill Hearne

The resignation came on Monday night after Nine admitted it had been “disappointed” not to reach a deal with Wilkinson but was “unable to meet the expectations” of the morning television host and her manager.

The popular host — who had been in the job for a decade — 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.

In a statement confirming Wilkinson’s departure, Nine thanked Wilkinson 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 and 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.”

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”.