Lisa Wilkinson jokes during first public appearance since shock Nine split

LISA Wilkinson made her first public appearance fittingly hosting a champagne tasting today, and she slipped a few wry comments into her speech.

USUALLY an MC would name-check their home network or station when introducing themselves as host of an event.

But Lisa Wilkinson made light of her headline-making week as she made her first public appearance since resigning from the Nine Network to compare a Moet & Chandon event in Sydney today.

“I’m Lisa Wilkinson ... and I’m from nowhere,” she began, to laughter and cheers at the Opera House, where the French champagne house was hosting the world’s largest champagne tasting Guinness World Records attempt.

The laughter continued as she asked “how’s everyone’s week been?”.

Lisa Wilkinson enjoyed her champagne at the Moet and Chandon event. Picture: Dean Lewins/AAP

Earlier this week the long serving co-host of Channel 9’s Today show with Karl Stefanovic announced that she would be resigning to take a role with Network Ten’s The Project .

Nine said it had “been unable to meet expectations of Lisa Wilkinson and her manager on a contract renewal”.

The Australian reported that Wilkinson wanted Nine to close the gender pay gap — it’s been widely reported that her co-host Stefanovic was paid substantially more.

Former Today host Lisa Wilkinson made light of her headline-making week. Picture: Dean Lewins/AAP

But today Wilkinson was all smiles as she sipped champagne and joked “I’m tasting success”.

She took one final opportunity to riff about her big move in her opening speech.

“Moet & Chandon is synonymous with royal jubilees, coronations, celebrations … and new job opportunities,” she said.

“Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.”

Wilkinson’s shock defection to Ten is rumoured to have made her one of the highest paid women in Australian television, but on Friday she played down her career move joking she was “kind of unemployed”.

“I’m not an official Moet and Chandon employee ... even though I’m kind of unemployed,” she said.

Lisa has been in high spirits all week. Picture: John Grainger