“It’s not true”: Karl Stefanovic denies reports he’s returning to the Today show
Karl Stefanovic’s team have denied rumours that he’s returning to the Today show to rescue the breakfast program’s abysmal ratings.
According to Woman’s Day, the media personality was in “secret negotiations” with Nine Network to plan the ultimate comeback.
But a spokesperson for the 44-year-old slammed the claim as completely false.
“There’s no truth to this rumour whatsoever.
“Karl is not returning to Today, nor are there any talks taking place, secret or otherwise, to that effect,” they told the Daily Mail.
Channel Nine also denied the rumour, saying, “It’s not true.”
Despite being sacked from the show’s top position, Stefanovic is still receiving a $3 million salary from Nine to be “warehoused”.
Since saying goodbye to the show, the journalist has kept a relatively low profile, posting to his Instagram only three times this year.
The new look Today show debuted in mid-January with Deborah Knight and Georgie Gardner at the forefront. Also joining the team were Tom Steinfort as newsreader, Brooke Boney as entertainment reporter and Steve Jacobs, the weatherman.
But since turning over a new leaf, the show’s ratings have plummeted with rival morning show Sunrise taking the top spot each and every time.
However, despite the disastrous figures, Nine’s program director Hamish Turner told The New Daily that he wasn’t worried.
“No, no, Today’s travelling well,” Turner said.
“At the beginning of the year I said, ‘We’re going to have to go through a bit of a rocky ride’. Whenever you have a change of lineup you always have to go through a bit of a teasing period.
“People like routine. They like to wake up with the same people, so it’s a matter of time, finding their place, finding their rhythm. It’s full steam ahead.”