Today show ratings have been rapidly declining since Karl Stefanovic’s departure in December.
However a new report claims the axed Today show co-host is now eyeing a return to the breakfast TV show.
Speaking to Woman’s Day on Monday, an unnamed source claimed Today show producers want Karl back in a bid to improve low ratings on the show, which is now hosted by Georgie Gardner and Deborah Knight.
Is Karl Stefanovic (left) making a return to Today? Report claims Channel Nine producers think he has better chemistry with Deborah Knight (right) than Georgie Gardner does
‘There’s virtually no chemistry between Georgie and Deb, but Karl and Deb work well together and have a sense of humour which resonates with viewers, whereas Georgie is still seen as prim and proper,’ the insider said.
Rob McKnight, who is a former executive producer of Studio 10, said bringing Karl back would be a great move for Channel Nine.
‘Karl’s comeback could be the story of the year. Nine has to face up to the fact it was a mistake to get rid of him.
Low ratings: An insider told Woman’s Day on Monday, ‘There’s virtually no chemistry between Georgie (right) and Deb (left), but Karl and Deb work well together and have a sense of humour which resonates with viewers, whereas Georgie is still seen as prim and proper’
‘Now he’s been through the worst year of his life, he could come back, reconnect with viewers and really help get the show back on track.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Karl and Channel Nine for comment.
Last month, an unconfirmed report by Woman’s Day claimed Deborah and Georgie’s ‘similar’ appearances have been a point of contention behind the scenes.
An unnamed source told the publication that Deborah has been advised to change her hair in an effort to win over viewers.
A new low: Just 163,000 viewers woke up with Georgie (3-L) and Deborah (2-L) across the five-city metro markets in early March, marking another all-time low for the Channel Nine breakfast show. Also pictured: Steve Jacobs (left), Tom Steinfort (2-R) and Brooke Boney (right)
‘Here’s a woman like Deb, a strong force to be reckoned with and one of the best journos in the country, being told she needed to cut her hair. It’s so wrong on far too many fronts,’ the source claimed.
‘Both Deb and Georgie pride themselves on being modern women of substance, and yet they’ve been reduced to something as superficial as their hairstyles having to be different.’
In January, Georgie, 48, and Deborah, 46, welcomed Tom Steinfort, 35, Brooke Boney, 31, and Tony Jones, 57, to the Today panel and viewers criticised everything from their lack of chemistry to their on-screen presentation.
Similar look: An unconfirmed report by Woman’s Day claimed Deborah (left) and Georgie’s (right) ‘similar’ appearances have been a point of contention behind the scenes. An unnamed source told the publication that Deborah has been advised to change her hair in an effort to win over viewers
‘This is like watching paint dry! A bunch of bores,’ one person wrote on the Today show’s official Facebook page.
‘Sorry, does not look right, very awkward, didn’t think it could get any worse but it has,’ read a similar comment.
Another viewer wrote: ‘What a bunch of fakes! Georgie go home, bring back Karl! Switching channels, goodbye boring Today show!!’
On March 13, The Today show pulled in 264,000 metro viewers which was significantly less than rival Sunrise’s 447,000 viewers, according to OzTam.
In a surprising twist, Today was also beaten by little-known News Breakfast on ABC, which had 265,000 national viewers across both ABC and ABC News.
A few days prior, just 163,000 viewers woke up with Georgie Gardner and Deborah Knight across the five-city metro markets, marking another all-time low for the breakfast show.
No chemistry: Karl (left) previously co-hosted Today with George (right) before he was replaced in December
During its debut in January, the revamped breakfast show was smashed in the ratings by Sunrise, drawing in a paltry 197,000 metro viewers.
In early March, the show attracted just 167,000 metro viewers, which marked the lowest figures since 2006.
In a recent statement to TV Tonight, Nine’s Head of Content Production and Development, Adrian Swift, said viewers should give the Today show a chance.
‘The reality is when you change your lineup it takes a long time to bed in,’ he said.
‘We’re not concerned. We are absolutely convinced we will get there.’
Previous hosts: Karl previously hosted the Today show with Lisa Wilkinson (right). She left in 2017 due to a pay dispute after it was revealed that her male co-host, Karl, was being paid significantly more. He was axed after 14 years in December