She appeared as a newsreader on the Today Show for seven years before resigning in 2014 to spend more time with her young family.
But Georgie Gardner is reportedly set to return to Nine’s flagship breakfast program, with Confidential claiming this week that the 46-year-old has secured the coveted role of co-host left vacant by Lisa Wilkinson last month.
With the Nine Network apparently ‘close to announcing Georgie as Lisa’s replacement’, Daily Mail Australia takes a look at the storied life of the star.
Waking up with Today? Daily Mail Australia takes a look at the storied life of Georgie Gardner after Confidential reported Nine are set to announce her as the new co-host of the Today Show
Despite going on to become one of Australia’s most esteemed TV presenters, Georgie’s journey to national prominence was far from easy.
The star has experienced her fair share of heartbreak over the years, including her parents’ bitter divorce, two miscarriages and the tragic death of close friend, West Coast Eagle Chris Mainwaring.
Born and raised in Perth as the middle of three children, Georgie’s parents separated when she was just five years old- with the bitter split deeply affecting her childhood and adolescence.
In an 2012 interview with The Australian Women’s Weekly, the star stated: ‘We [her and her siblings] had a privileged upbringing, in the material and opportunity sense, but there was a lot of turbulence and confusion and deep sadness brought on by a pretty bitter divorce.’
Georgie’s mother, a ‘pillar of Perth society’, re-married a prominent lawyer, but the star was reluctant to disclose further information about the ‘trauma’ of her upbringing.
Joining Karl at the desk? Nine is reporting Georgie will take Lisa’s vacated seat alongside Karl Stefanovic on the Today Show- a milestone after a very eventful life and career
Difficult upbringing: Georgie’s poised and polished persona masks a difficult upbringing brought on by her parent’s bitter split
‘I haven’t let those dark times define me,’ she told the publication at the time.
The star’s father tragically passed away from cancer when she was just 25, and Georgie today has ‘limited contact with her mother’.
It was revealed in 2015, that due to her interview with Women’s Weekly, one of her brothers cut off contact with her.
Educated at Perth’s poshest girls’ school, St Hilda’s, it was perhaps there that Georgie developed the polish and intellect that are now her trademarks.
The love of her life: Georgie is married to investment banker Tim, with whom she shares two children (pictured in 2004)
Following university, Georgie began working in radio before making the jump to television with a job at Channel Ten.
Around the time she made the move to the Nine Network in 2002, the star met and married investment banker Tim Baker. Close friend Jessica Rowe served as a bridesmaid at the nuptials.
Welcoming a daughter, Bronte, in 2005 and son, Angus in 2007, Georgie candidly revealed that the couple wanted a third child, but suffered two heartbreaking miscarriages.
Doting mum! Georgie pictured with her children Bronte and Angus earlier this year
Besties! Lisa and Georgie grew close after many years together on the Today Show. Now it’s reported Georgie will take Lisa’s seat on the show
She grew close with co-star Lisa Wilkinson after joining the Today Show in 2007.
During that same year, she broke down live on-air over the sudden death of West Coast great Chris Mainwaring.
With Georgie too distraught to continue reading the news bulletin, Today co-host Karl Stefanovic and finance reporter Amber Higlett took over for the star.
She became a beloved star around the country, and broke down live on air and when announcing her departure from the program in 2014.
The reported announcement that she will now return to the show comes after news.com.au reported last week that she had ‘ruled out’ the role.
She’ll fit right in! Georgie became a beloved star around the country during her seven year tenure on the Today Show
Will she be back? Georgie broke down after announcing she was leaving the Today Show in 2014- now it’s reported that she’s making a comeback