Jessica Rowe made a surprise appearance on the Today show on Monday after once saying that ‘hell would freeze over first’ before she would make a return to the program.
The 48-year-old hosted the show back in 2006 alongside Karl Stefanovic, but sensationally left a year later after Eddie McGuire, then Nine’s chief executive, allegedly asked when he could fire her from the role.
But it appears Jessica has moved on from the incident, returning to the breakfast program to promote her book, Diary of a Crap Housewife.
Time heals all wounds? Jessica Rowe, 48, appeared on Monday’s Today show to promote her new book, 13 years after THAT ‘boning’ incident
It may have surprised some viewers, as the mother-of-two previously described her stint on the network as ‘a dark time’ in her life.
Jessica, dressed in a red and pink floral frock, appeared happy and upbeat as she was interviewed by hosts Georgie Gardner and Deborah Knight on the program.
Jessica began her career in television as a receptionist for Channel Nine and worked her way up to news presenter for Channel Ten in 1996.
She was thrust into the spotlight in 2006 when she moved to Channel Nine to host the Today show alongside Karl Stefanovic, replacing Tracy Grimshaw.
Back then: It may surprise some viewers, as Jessica previously described her stint on the network as ‘a dark time’ in her life. Pictured as co-host of Today, alongside Karl Stefanovic in January 2006
Scandal struck when Eddie McGuire, then Nine’s chief executive, allegedly asked when he could ‘bone’ Jessica – with reports suggesting the word meant to ‘sack’ her.
He reportedly made the comments during a chat with his then deputy Jeffrey Browne and Nine’s head of news and current affairs, Mark Llewellyn.
‘What are we going to do about Jessica? When should we bone her? I reckon it should be next week,’ Eddie reportedly asked at the time.
Headlines: Scandal struck in 2006 when Eddie McGuire (pictured with Jessica), then Nine’s chief executive, allegedly asked when he could ‘bone’ Jessica – with reports suggesting the word meant to ‘sack’ her
Mark then allegedly told Eddie that they might risk also losing Jessica’s husband, Nine reporter Peter Overton.
Eddie is said to have replied, ‘Well, maybe we have to take that risk,’ while Jeffrey added: ‘She’s a laughing stock and if we keep her on air we will be the laughing stock.’
Eddie has since denied using the term ‘bone’ in the conversation, which was laid out by Mark’s sworn affidavit (made public after he left the network for rival station Seven).
Discussing the incident in 2016, Jessica said people forget ‘how powerful words can be and how they can hurt like hell’ and how she was still ‘terribly upset’ by it all.
‘That year was a terrible time in my life and it was not helped by public abuse, abuse from within the network that I worked at and abuse from someone who was in charge of that particular network,’ she told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Jumped ship: Jessica left the Today show a year after joining, following her return from maternity leave. She joined Channel Seven as a presenter for Seven News in Sydney, and later moved to Weekend Sunrise in 2010
‘It was horrific and it pre-empted then a very dark period in my life. A whole lot of factors contributed to a perfect storm… and it just makes me terribly sad.’
Jessica left the Today show a year after joining, following her return from maternity leave, and cited payment issues as her reason for departing.
She then joined Channel Seven as a presenter for Seven News in Sydney – and also expanded her public profile by taking part in Dancing With The Stars.
She later moved to Weekend Sunrise in December 2010, replacing Sharyn Ghidella and Sarah Cumming, and stayed there for three years.
Jessica joined Studio 10 in 2013, hosting alongside Ita Buttrose, Joe Hildebrand, Sarah Harris and Denise Drysdale.
Sge shocked viewers in March 2018 when she announced her decision to quit Studio 10 in order to spend more time with her family.
Another switch-up: Jessica joined Studio 10 in 2013. The mother-of-two shocked viewers in March 2018 when she announced her decision to quit. Pictured from L to R: Natarsha Belling, Joe Hildebrand, Jessica, and Denise Drysdale