Georgie Gardner leaves Today show with immediate effect after being axed

Georgie Gardner leaves the Today show with immediate effect and WON’T finish off the year after being axed in favour of Karl Stefanovic – as Deborah Knight and Tom Steinfort give her an awkward send-off before 6am

Georgie Gardner has left Channel Nine’s Today show with immediate effect, after it was confirmed she was being replaced by Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon in 2020.

The 49-year-old was absent from the breakfast program on Monday, with Deborah Knight and Tom Steinfort giving her a rather awkward send-off shortly before 6am.

‘We wanted to acknowledge our colleague and friend Georgie Gardner,’ began Deborah, who has also been axed but won’t leave the show until the end of the year. 

Shock: Georgie Gardner has left the Today show with immediate effect, after it was confirmed she’ll be replaced by Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon in 2020. Pictured Georgie on Sunday

Deborah continued: ‘You might have read over the weekend that Georgie has left the show. After a really challenging year, we want to wish Georgie all the very best.’

Tom added: ‘She has been a committed and passionate member of the team here. I think particularly when she’s been sharing the stories of everyday Australians who are doing it tough. These are issues that she wanted to focus on.

‘She has always been a woman of strength here, a woman of class – and also who could forget that very wicked sense of humour that would just pop up from time to time as well?’

Deborah then reflected on Today’s declining ratings since Georgie replaced Lisa Wilkinson as Karl Stefanovic’s co-host in early 2018. 

Goodbye: The 49-year-old was absent from the breakfast program on Monday, with Deborah Knight (right) and Tom Steinfort (left) forced to give her an awkward send-off at 5:57am

Goodbye: The 49-year-old was absent from the breakfast program on Monday, with Deborah Knight (right) and Tom Steinfort (left) forced to give her an awkward send-off at 5:57am

'You might have read over the weekend that Georgie has left the show. After a really challenging year we want to wish Georgie all the very best,' said Deborah (left) on Monday

‘You might have read over the weekend that Georgie has left the show. After a really challenging year we want to wish Georgie all the very best,’ said Deborah (left) on Monday

‘She gave it a red hot go,’ said Deborah. 

‘For now though, Georgie is enjoying the time with her family, friends, taking Wilbur the dog [for a walk] and we look forward to seeing you on our screens again soon.’

On Friday, Georgie’s final episode of Today delivered 191,000 metro viewers.

'She gave it a red hot go': Georgie replaced Lisa Wilkinson as Karl Stefanovic's (left) co-host on Today in early 2018, with Deborah admitting she had done her best to boost the ratings

‘She gave it a red hot go’: Georgie replaced Lisa Wilkinson as Karl Stefanovic’s (left) co-host on Today in early 2018, with Deborah admitting she had done her best to boost the ratings

This marked a significant boost from the record low of 155,000 metro viewers the show had reached earlier this month.

Speaking to 9Now on Saturday, Georgie revealed she was shocked by the network’s decision to sack her and Deborah Knight in favour of bringing back Karl.

‘I was consulted two weeks ago about the future direction of the Today Show and naturally I’m disappointed with the outcome,’ she said. 

'Georgie is enjoying the time with her family,' said Deborah, who later replaced Karl as Georgie's co-host in January, before ratings then reached new record lows

‘Georgie is enjoying the time with her family,’ said Deborah, who later replaced Karl as Georgie’s co-host in January, before ratings then reached new record lows

'I'm disappointed': Speaking to 9Now on Saturday, Georgie appeared shocked by the network's decision to axe herself and co-host Deborah Knight to reinstate Karl

‘I’m disappointed’: Speaking to 9Now on Saturday, Georgie appeared shocked by the network’s decision to axe herself and co-host Deborah Knight to reinstate Karl

‘I have no regrets, even though the scrutiny and public discourse has been daunting and disproportionate. It’s also at times been cruel.’ 

In 2020, Karl and Allison Langdon will front the struggling breakfast show.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Nine for comment.

Out: It was confirmed on Saturday that Deborah Knight (left) and Georgie (right) have been axed from the Today show, after debuting as co-stars in January

Out: It was confirmed on Saturday that Deborah Knight (left) and Georgie (right) have been axed from the Today show, after debuting as co-stars in January 

Fresh format: Allison Langdon (left) and Karl Stefanovic (right) will front the show in 2020

Fresh format: Allison Langdon (left) and Karl Stefanovic (right) will front the show in 2020

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