What Georgie Gardner needs to do from day one on the ‘Today’ show

WHEN Georgie Gardner starts her new job as Today co-host on Monday, there are a few things she will need to get right, a TV insider has revealed.

WHAT can viewers expect from the Today show when Georgie Gardner starts her co-hosting role on Monday?

According to a TV insider with many years experience producing breakfast television, we can expect to see Gardner conducting most of the hard-hitting interviews on the Channel Nine breakfast show.

“If I was producing the show, I’d be stressing her news credentials,” the insider told news.com.au. “Many think the breakfast shows have drifted a tad too light in recent years and whether that’s true or not, Georgie can help counter that perception.

“I’d be giving her the main interviews of the day for the first few weeks to stamp her authority. She can’t be seen as Karl’s offsider. Given his strong personality, it’s vital she’s given space to show that it’s now just as much her show as his.”

Gardner, who previously appeared as the newsreader on Today from 2006 to 2014, was named as Lisa Wilkinson’s replacement in November last year. And it was a smart choice by Channel Nine, says the insider.

“Georgie is already well known to many Today show viewers from her time as news presenter,” he told news.com.au.

“That actually takes much of the pressure off. There’s already an accepted dynamic.

“Breakfast shows can get very clicky and perceived outsiders are often given a rough time by viewers who miss the old dynamic of former hosts. That shouldn’t be a major factor for Georgie and you will see Today producers ramping up the ‘welcome home’ messaging to remind viewers she’s part of the family.”

Georgie Gardner starts her new role on Monday. Picture: John Feder/The Australian.

Much has been written about the alleged tension between Gardner and Stefanovic with the Daily Telegraph quoting inside sources who insist “the pair cannot stand one another”.

“She signed on to the show after having been assured she would only have to do one year with Karl,” a senior executive told the Daily Telegraph in November.

“After that, he’s gone and Nine will recast and she will get to work with someone else.”

Gardner even commented on the rumoured tension in the Today segment during which she was announced as the new co-host.

“There’s been a lot of conjecture over the last few weeks about how we feel about each other,” she said to Stefanovic. “We’ve had our bumps, we’ve had our laughs, we have a very open and honest relationship. Strap yourself in everyone, because anything could happen.”

But according to our insider, there’s not much truth the rumours the co-hosts don’t get on.

“The perceived tension between Karl and Georgie is overplayed,” he said. “If she didn’t like the guy, she wouldn’t have taken the job.

“Chemistry is important at breakfast and it comes in many forms. She does have a different personality from him and that’s a great thing. Producers may well be exploiting the perception as a playful thing. It becomes a talking point and something viewers can get some fun out of.”

The insider hailed Gardner as a “terrific choice” and expects her to be successful as Stefanovic’s offsider, although he did suggest that the mother-of-two will need to let her guard down in order to let viewers in.

“The most successful breakfast show hosts are those who can form connections with the audience by being relatable,” he told news.com.au.

“That often means sharing real-life experiences. She was a tad isolated from that when on the newsdesk. Georgie can be somewhat guarded by nature so that won’t be an overnight thing but I’m sure she’ll find the balance.”

Georgie Gardner at home with her husband, Tim, and kids Bronte and Angus.

Georgie Gardner can be seen on Today with Karl Stefanovic from 5.30am on Monday.