This Channel Nine personality wanted Lisa Wilkinson’s job
When Lisa Wilkinson announced her departure from the Today show it wasn’t just viewers around the country who were shocked, but many of her co-workers at Channel Nine as well. While the dust started to settle on the announcement, the big question around the country was this – who was going to replace Lisa at the desk?
Georgie Gardner might’ve stepped into the role as Karl Stefanovic’s co-host, but media reports suggest she wasn’t the only Channel Nine personality vying for the job.
News.com.au reports that Deborah Knight was also keen to permanently step into Wilkinson’s shoes at the Today show desk, after she was called in as a last-minute replacement.
“That was the same exact moment that I found out Lisa had left,” Knight told News.com.au.
“It was quite a shock to everyone when it happened. I wasn’t privy to what was going on behind the scenes at all so I was quite shocked by the fact that she was leaving and then to be asked to step in as host. It was like, ‘really?’ and then, ‘REALLY?’ It was quite a lot to get my head around pretty quickly.
“That was one of those moments where you think, ‘wow, this is an amazing opportunity,’ but it’s also terrifying at the same time.”
“It was very much business as usual,” Knight said about her first morning behind the desk.
“Everyone on camera and everyone off-camera ... they were all, just as I was, surprised by her departure but it was very much a case of, ‘we have to make the best show that we always do so let’s just get on with it’.”
When asked if she would’ve like the gig full time, Knight said, “absolutely!”
“It’s the pinnacle of television from my point of view because it has got such a vast amount of variety ... The content that you’re dealing with is varied and it’s challenging and it’s all so much fun. It’s a very fast moving show and every morning’s different and it’s just a terrific crew of people both in front of camera and behind the camera who all give it their all every day.”
But she was quick to add that she thought Gardner was a good choice.
“I wasn’t really disappointed,” Knight said.
“I knew that Georgie was the frontrunner and that she was just going to do a terrific job because of her experience on the show and her as an individual. Once I knew that Georgie was interested and the frontrunner I kind of knew that she would get the role, to be honest. It was hers to say no to.”
What are your thoughts? Do you think Channel Nine made the right decision?