Grinning from ear to ear the stars of Nine’s struggling breakfast shows assemble for a very public show of unity.
Talent from Today and Today Extra gathered at the network’s Upfront event, in Sydney on Wednesday night, where Nine announced its upcoming shows for 2020.
The glamorous outfits and wide smiles managed to mask what has been a very difficult year at the network.
From ratings woes, to shocking staff shake ups and some very personal dramas, staff have endured crisis after crisis in the past 12 months.
Here Daily Mail Australia looks back over Nine’s year of hell.
The truth behind the smiling Today family photo from Nine’s Upfronts 2020 on Wednesday. Pictured L-R: Allison Langdon, Jayne Azzopardi, David Campbell, Sonia Kruger, Richard Wilkins, Steve Jacobs, Tom Steinfort, Georgie Gardner, Deborah Night, Brooke Boney
DICKIE REPLACED
Showbiz veteran Richard Wilkins may have taken pride of place in the centre of the Upfronts 2020 picture, but his position fails to reflect the networks’s real pecking order.
In December last year, the 65-year-old was demoted as Today’s entertainment correspondent after 25 years in the role, and replaced by Brooke Boney.
Richard was then redeployed to second-tier show Today Extra, but has remained the entertainment editor at Nine.
Ousted: In December, Richard Wilkins (pictured) was demoted as Today’s entertainment correspondent after 25 years in the role, and redeployed to second-tier show Today Extra
STEVE’S DIVORCE DRAMA
Today weatherman Steve Jacobs announced his split from wife Rose Jacobs in March 2018, but the saga continued well into this year.
In an article for Whimn in June, TV host Rose, 40, admitted she suffered from anxiety and depression in the wake of her breakup from Steve, 52, before acknowledging the financial implications of their separation.
‘I struggle to get by week by week as a single mum relying on Centrelink for child support and working in a job that sounds glamorous but is inconsistent and not exactly high paying,’ she said in the interview.
Rose added that she has a week-on, week-off custody arrangement with Steve, who is the father of her two daughters: Isabella, seven, and Francesca, five.
In January, Steve was spotted on several dates with pretty brunette Emma Goody.
It is not known if the estranged couple are officially divorced.
Divorce drama: Weatherman Steve Jacobs announced his split from wife Rose in March 2018, but it has continued to cause a stir. Pictured: Steve and Rose in 2016
Open: In June, Rose (pictured) said their split left her suffering from anxiety and depression, and ‘relying on Centrelink’ while acknowledging the financial implications of their break up
GEORGIE AND DEBORAH ‘AT WAR’
After replacing Karl Stefanovic as co-host of the Today show alongside Georgie Gardner in January, Deborah Knight has faced heavy criticism.
Speaking to Stellar magazine in April, Deb said she was forced to contend with ‘hateful’ rhetoric after the two women debuted as presenters.
Referring to the commentary, Deb slammed any suggestion of reported in-fighting, but did admit the two women are very ‘different in style.’
‘Georgie and I have enormous respect for each other. We’re very different people, but I think that’s a good thing because we bring different approaches,’ she said.
Georgie also slammed ‘feud’ reports, adding that the sources who spoke of rivalry also wrongly predicted the women would obsess over ‘feminist rallies and tampons.’
At war? After debuting as co-host of the Today show alongside Georgie Gardner (R) in January, Deborah Knight (L) admitted the two women are very ‘different in style’ amid feud rumours
BROOKE STRUGGLING TO FIND HER FEET
After taking over Dickie’s role as entertainment correspondent, Brooke Boney has endured many awkward interviews while getting used to her new role.
In April, the 32-year-old made headlines after flirting with Chris Hemsworth as she chatted to him about the release of Avengers: Endgame.
‘Do you notice anything different about me?’ she said, leaving Chris puzzled and momentarily lost for words.
Chris paused, then looked the journalist up and down and replied politely: ‘Ah… you’re looking awesome?’
Brooke then revealed she had been using his fitness app Centr for home workouts.
Finding her feet: After taking over Dickie’s role as entertainment correspondent, Brooke Boney (pictured) has endured many awkward interviews this year
‘Do you notice anything different about me?’: In April, the 32-year-old made headlines after flirting with Chris Hemsworth (pictured) as she chatted to him about Avengers: Endgame
SONIA’S MUSLIM COMMENT BACKLASH
In February, the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal found Sonia Kruger vilified Muslims when she called for Australia to close its borders to followers of Islam because she ‘didn’t feel safe’ during a live broadcast in 2016.
The tribunal found her ‘vilifying remarks’ had the ability to ‘encourage hatred towards, or serious contempt for, Australian Muslims by ordinary members of the Australian population’.
But the tribunal dismissed the complaint, ruling that The Voice Australia host did not engage in directing the controversial comments towards a race but rather a religious group.
In 2016, Sonia shocked her fellow presenter David Campbell and former Today host Lisa Wilkinson when she discussed a column written by conservative commentator Andrew Bolt following a terrorist attack in Nice on Bastille Day.
Backlash: In February, the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal found Sonia Kruger (pictured) vilified Muslims when she called for Australia to close its borders to followers of Islam because she ‘didn’t feel safe’ during a live broadcast in 2016
‘I mean, personally, I think Andrew Bolt has a point here, that there is a correlation between the number of people who are Muslim in a country and the number of terrorist attacks,’ she said.
‘Now I have a lot of very good friends who are Muslim, who are peace-loving who are beautiful people, but there are fanatics. Personally I would like to see it stopped now for Australia. Because I want to feel safe, as all of our citizens do, when they go out to celebrate Australia Day.’
The tribunal decided Kruger was ‘calm and measured’ in her comments and believed she made it clear she did not think every Muslim person was a fanatic.
Report: The tribunal decided Kruger was ‘calm and measured’ in her comments and believed she made it clear she did not think every Muslim person was a fanatic
THE MASS EXODUS OF 2018
The Today show experienced its biggest ever shakeup in December 2018.
Within days, host Karl Stefanovic and Today Extra host Peter Stefanovic were both axed, following their infamous ‘Ubergate’ scandal.
In March 2018, the brothers were embroiled in the scandal after their private chat in a taxi, where they reportedly slated Nine, was leaked to the public.
Following their exit, Peter’s newsreader wife Sylvia Jeffreys was also ousted from the show, and now hosts 9News Watch on Facebook each weeknight.
Richard Wilkins was redeployed from Today to Today Extra amid the shake up.
Peter has since landed a leading role on Sky News’ breakfast coverage, while Karl still under contract with Nine and his future somewhat uncertain.
Mass exodus: In December, Today host Karl Stefanovic (R) and Today Extra host Peter Stefanovic (L) were both axed following their infamous ‘Ubergate’ scandal. Pictured in September, 2019
Out: Following their exit, Peter’s newsreader wife Sylvia Jeffreys (pictured) was also ousted from the show, and now hosts 9News Watch on Facebook each weeknight