‘Seems like hosts are going the way as the dinosaurs – nobody needs them!’ Today’s weather presenter Steve Jacobs makes an awkward joke about staff sackings on Tim Gilbert’s last day
After five years as sports reporter, Tim Gilbert became the latest victim of the so-called ‘bloodbath’ at Channel Nine’s Today show.
Along with Karl Stefanovic, Richard Wilkins and Sylvia Jeffreys, Tim was reportedly given his marching orders last month.
And on his last day as fill-in host on Friday, the 51-year-old was mocked as a ‘dinosaur’ by his fellow Today presenters – specifically weatherman Steve Jacobs.
‘By way of the dinosaurs’: There was an awkward moment on Friday when the Today cast and crew joked about Tim Gilbert (left), 51, being sacked from the Today show. Pictured right: Fill-in co-host Lara Vella
At the end of a news report about this year’s upcoming Oscars, in which customary presenters will be replaced by A-listers doing skits, Steve, 51, said: ‘Seems like hosts are going the way as the dinosaurs. Nobody needs ’em.’
At that moment, the camera shows a very unimpressed looking Tim, with the corners of his mouth firmly turned down, while co-host Lara Vella sits smirking next to him.
Tim smiles very briefly before scrunching up his face as the rest of the studio cast and crew are heard guffawing in loud laughter.
Jocular jibe: At the end of a news report about this year’s upcoming Oscars, in which customary presenters will be replaced by A-listers doing skits, Steve (pictured), 51, said: ‘Seems like hosts are going the way as the dinosaurs. Nobody needs ’em’
Ouch! At that moment, Tim smiled very briefly before scrunching up his face as the rest of the studio cast and crew are heard guffawing in loud laughter
Being a good sport, Tim then sees the humour in the jibe and starts giggling too.
Former Today show host Karl Stefanovic, 44, was axed from the breakfast program last month, following a blaze of poor ratings and negative headlines.
His sacking came after his brother, Peter Stefanovic, 37, was dropped by Nine amid claims he wanted to ‘explore new opportunities.’
Gone! Karl, 44, was axed from Today last month, following a blaze of poor ratings and negative headlines (pictured with Karl’s then co-host, Georgie Gardner)
Shake-up: Karl’s axing came after his brother, Peter Stefanovic, was dropped by Nine. Amid the Today shakeup, Peter’s wife Sylvia Jeffreys also lost her role on the Today show, but will stay with the network for a new prime-time gig (Peter and Sylvia are pictured)
Amid the Today shake-up, Peter’s wife Sylvia Jeffreys, 32, also lost her role on the Today show, but will stay with the network for a new prime-time gig.
Today’s entertainment reporter Richard Wilkins, 64, will remain the head of entertainment at Nine but will moving primarily to Today Extra.
This month, it was revealed that Deborah Knight will replace Karl on Today and will co-host alongside Georgie Gardner.
Deborah was chosen over a long list of contenders for the top job, including Brenton Ragless and Ben Fordham.
New start: This month, it was revealed that Deborah Knight (left) will replace Karl Stefanovic on Today and will co-host alongside Georgie Gardner (right)