Karl Stefanovic axed from Today

After sharing the screen with Karl Stefanovic for 10 years, Lisa Wilkinson has broken her silence over his Today Show departure.

Karl Stefanovic, left, has been axed as Today host. Picture: John Feder

Karl Stefanovic’s honeymoon glow has disappeared following the controversial media personality’s axing from the Today breakfast show by Nine, ending months of speculation about his future on the beleaguered program.

In a statement released this afternoon, Nine news director Darren Wick said Stefanovic will remain with the network, resuming hosting duties on This Time Next Year. The 44-year old journalist earns $2 million annually at Nine and has two years left on his contract.

“Nine and Karl Stefanovic have agreed it is time for him to step off the Today Show,” Wick said.

“For over 14 years Karl has been at the centre of the Today Show bringing his unique personality and perspective to the day’s news and current affairs.”

Stefanovic, who is currently on a honeymoon with new wife Jasmine Yarbrough, thanked Nine for the opportunity to host Today, adding it has been “a tough time”.

“For the last 14 years I’ve co-hosted the best show on television,” he said. “I can’t thank Nine enough for the opportunity. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be good enough to host this grand show for so long.

“Thanks to our viewers mostly, you are what matters most. Thanks for hanging in there. I look forward to seeing you in another capacity at this great network soon.”

Lisa Wilkinson weighed in on her former co-host’s axing, posting a series of images to Instagram with the caption “Wishing @karlstefanovic all the best. Because when it was good, it was great...”

Stefanovic’s axing comes two months after Nine boss Hugh Marks said Stefanovic would be part of Today in2019, at the network’s upfront event to unveil its program line up to advertisers and media buyers in Sydney.

In September, Marks told The Australian: “No doubt the constant publicity surrounding issues with his personal life have had an impact on Karl, his colleagues and on the show. We can’t hide from that. And as a result we know there’s a lot of hard work to be done to win back the audience.

“Clearly, it’s been a tough and challenging year for Karl and Today.”

Wick said Stefanovic’s Today replacement will be confirmed in coming weeks, Adelaide newsreader Brenton Ragless, who has been co-hosting Today with Deborah Knight in recent weeks, is a candidate to replace Stefanovic as co-host.

Stefanovic has been in the news for all the wrong reasons since his 21-year marriage ended in 2016, firstly because of his love life and then an infamous Ubergate scandal with his younger brother Peter Stefanovic, which damaged Today’s popularity, and finally claimed the scalp of Peter yesterday.

The brothers were secretly recorded by their Uber driver criticising Nine’s management, in particular 60 Minutes and Karl’s Today co-host Georgie Gardner, in March.

Gardner joined Stefanovic at the Today desk in January following the defection of Wilkinson to rival Ten in October last year after a decade with the long-running show.

After a very public courtship which played out in the media, Stefanovic married shoe designer Yarbrough in Mexico earlier this month, the pair expected to return home later this week.

The couple have been fodder for Australian gossip magazines since they got together, which was only a few months after Karl split from first wife Cassandra Thorburn, with whom he shares three children.

The sacking of Stefanovic comes two weeks after Mark Calvert stepped down as executive producer of Today and as director of morning television following five years in the role. His departure follows a slump in TV ratings and alleged tension with Stefanovic.

Nine yesterday said the parting of ways with Peter Stefanovic, who had been with the network for 15 years, was a mutual decision.