Deb Knight roasted live on radio over Today’s ratings slump
Deborah Knight has responded to comedian and radio host Mick Molloy’s taunts on her new role on the Today show, only to be roasted further.
Molloy, who hosts Triple M's Kennedy Molloy radio show with Jane Kennedy, started the online campaign #JaneForToday to champion his co-host to take over the breakfast show’s new line-up.
In response to the joke campaign, Knight called in to the radio show for an on-air interview on Wednesday afternoon.
Get around it! @mickmolloy has officially started a campaign to get @jane_l_kennedy to host the Today Show #JaneForToday #IWakeUpWithJane pic.twitter.com/lJ8aIw5FTJ
— Kennedy Molloy (@kennedymolloy) 12 February 2019
While Kennedy said she supports Knight and Georgie Gardner as Today’s new co-hosts, Molloy suggested the show should let him present the weather forecast or an aerobics-style segment on the program.
"A bit of Lycra with you would go down a treat … we want to boost ratings Mick, we don't want them to go down any more, goodness me," Knight replied.
"The ratings are boosting, and it’s great to see two women fronting a show," said Kennedy.
"Well, there's only one way they could go, which is up," said Molloy. "I've had two shows axed by Channel 9, Deborah, welcome aboard!"
Molloy’s first show on Channel 9, The Mick Molloy Show, was taken off air after only eight episodes following poor reviews and complaints from the audiences. His second show, The Nation, was also cancelled in 2007 within a few months from its first episode airing.
The Today show has been struggling with its ratings since the debut of the new line-up earlier this year. Last Wednesday, only 177,000 metro viewers tuned in to Today while the show’s main competitor, Channel 7’s Sunrise gained 300,000 viewers.
In January, Knight said it is not her job to be concerned about the ratings.
"That is for others to work at and worry about, my job is just turning up and being me," Knight told Sydney Confidential.
"I try to limit the impact that the chatter and the white noise has on me."