Call for Karl Stefanovic to return now after fill-in’s shocker

The interim host of Nine Network’s embattled Today show, Jonathan Uptin, is accused of embarrassing the network | WATCH

The stand-in host of the Nine Network’s embattled Today show, Jonathan Uptin, has been accused of embarrassing the network in an awkward interview with Scott Morrison, prompting some critics to call for Karl Stefanovic’s immedi­ate return.

The 48-year-old fill-in was attempti­ng to grill the Prime Minister on Monday morning over a perceived lack of leadership but ended up stumbling his way through the segment, with viewers labelling the exchange “amateurish” and “embarrassing”.

While the Seven Network’s rival show, ­Sunrise, has maintained a sprinkling of regular presenters throughout the festive break, including weekend host Monica Wright and sports report­er Mark Beretta, Uptin will only be familiar to Brisbane viewers, where he hosts Nine’s Weekend News, and remains largely unknown in the rest of the country.

The network was forced to cobble­ together a summer line-up after sacking this year’s regular hosts, Georgie Gardner and Deborah Knight, last month and replacing them with Stefanovic, just 12 months after he was also sacked from the show. But he does not start until January 6.

Network insiders told The Australian that filling in as host of the struggling Today show was seen as a golden opportunity to impress Nine’s network executives and Uptin would have been trying to showcase his skills with the bullish interview, only for his plan to backfire spectacularly.

“Filling in on the Today show was a big opportunity for Jona­than and he knew all eyes were on him at the network, so he was really keen to impress,” one Nine staffer said. “Unfortunately, it didn’t quite work out the way he wanted, and the Prime Minister didn’t end up being the one who was embarrassed.”

Despite boasting more than 20 years’ experience, Uptin repeatedly spoke over the top of Mr Morrison during the uneasy interview, before volunteering his own political leanings midway.

Uptin was on the offensive from the outset, demanding to know whether the Prime Minister was “embarrassed” by the way his Hawaiian holiday reflected on the nation and his government.

An apologetic PM conceded he had made the wrong call regarding the timing of the family vacation­, saying “you try to make the best decisions and, when you think you can make better decis­ions, you’re upfront with the Australian people about that, which I was yesterday”.

Not satisfied, Uptin continued to press Mr Morrison as the Prime Minister became increasingly frustrated by the repetitive line of questioning. Uptin then demanded to know whether Mr Morrison intended to take another holiday before year’s end.

“Before the end of 2019?” Mr Morrison asked. “At the moment, if I get to take a few days with the family, I will always seek to do that, if I get the opportunity.”

“Make sure you will tell us as well, Prime Minister, won’t you?” Uptin interjected to awkward silence­. The audience was quick to savage the show online, with one viewer saying: “The interview made no sense and acting out of emotions. Your (sic) right, Channel 9 is such an embarrassment to Australia. Bring back Karl.”

Another added: “Who is that interviewer? What is it, amateur hour?”

Former Studio 10 executive producer Rob McKnight defended Uptin, however, saying the line of questioning “clearly wasn’t his idea”. “You’ve also got to remember this was probably the biggest interview of his career … and the fact that his interview created headlines will serve him well.”