Karl Stefanovic has shared a heartfelt tribute to his mentor Tracy Grimshaw as she prepares to quit A Current Affair after 17 years.
Reacting to the news on the Today show on Tuesday, Stefanovic, 48, praised the veteran broadcaster, 62, for her tireless dedication to news reporting and for teaching him the ropes at Channel Nine almost two decades ago.
‘She’s been a shift worker for 26 years, starting with the early wake-up calls for the Today show. She was host for nine years before becoming the anchor of A Current Affair in 2006,’ he began.
Karl Stefanovic (left) paid tribute to his mentor Tracy Grimshaw on the Today show on Tuesday, after the Nine veteran announced she was stepping down from A Current Affair after 17 years
‘Her last shift will be in November behind that iconic desk. Tracy Grimshaw, you deserve a rest,’ Stefanovic added with a smile.
He also thanked Grimshaw for taking him under her wing back in 2005 when he joined the Today show as her co-anchor.
‘What a legend. I started out on this show with her 18 years ago,’ he recalled, prompting fill-in host Sarah Abo to jokingly ask: ‘When are you announcing that time is up for you?’
‘Her last shift will be in November behind that iconic desk. Tracy Grimshaw, you deserve a rest,’ said Stefanovic (pictured with Today co-host Sarah Abo)
Stefanovic also thanked Grimshaw for taking him under her wing back in 2005 when he joined the Today show as her co-anchor. (Pictured together during their tenure as Today co-hosts)
Stefanovic clarified he had no idea Grimshaw was going to step down from ACA, and was just as shocked as the rest of Australia
‘I have got another 18 to go, just attack the day,’ Stefanovic said, before praising Grimshaw once again.
‘I had the great fortune of working with her for a year and she was exceptional. I learned so much in that year,’ he said.
Stefanovic also clarified he had no idea Grimshaw was going to quit, and was just as shocked as the rest of Australia.
Grimshaw announced she was stepping down from A Current Affair during Monday night’s episode.
Grimshaw announced she was stepping down from A Current Affair during Monday’s episode
‘Normally right about now we’d be telling you what to expect tomorrow night, but lately I’ve personally been thinking longer term, and I have some news that I wanted you to hear from me before you hear it from anyone else,’ Grimshaw began.
‘I’ve decided to finish up with A Current Affair this year.
‘It’s been a big decision and before the gossip websites start telling you rubbish, I want you to know it’s been my decision alone and I’m not being shoved out the door by the boys’ club because I’m too old.
‘It’s been a big decision and before the gossip websites start telling you rubbish, I want you to know it’s been my decision alone and I’m not being shoved out the door,’ she said on air
‘I’m not too old, I’m just a bit tired. And for the record both the boys and the girls have asked me to stay,’ Grimshaw continued.
‘But I’ve basically been a shift worker for 26 years, driving to work before dawn for nine years on the Today show, and the past 17 years driving home after dark here on A Current Affair and it’s time for less of that daily obligation.’
‘I was just a kid in 1971 when Mike Willesee started it, and in our family it was required viewing each night as Michael either forensically dismantled some politician or maybe laughed along with Hoges.
‘I’m not too old, I’m just a bit tired. And for the record both the boys and the girls have asked me to stay,’ added Grimshaw (pictured in 2018)
‘Back then, I was going to be a vet or a flight attendant, so if you’d told me that one day I’d sit in this chair, let alone occupy it for 17 years, I’d have thought you were mad. Well, lucky me.
‘You’ve let me indulge my love of interviewing here.
‘I’ve talked to people who’ve made us all laugh and cry, who’ve shared their triumphs and their challenges and their wisdom and despair.
‘I’ve basically been a shift worker for 26 years, driving to work before dawn for nine years on the Today show, and the past 17 years driving home after dark here on A Current Affair and it’s time for less of that daily obligation,’ she explained. (Pictured at the Logie Awards in 2018)
‘And because it’s your show, not mine, and you get to vote each night with your remote control, you told us you wanted more of that.
‘So thank you for that opportunity. Thank you for your loyalty. I hope I’ve repaid it.’
Grimshaw concluded: ‘I’m around until November then I’m going to take a long holiday, but it’s business as usual until then. See you tomorrow night.’
The official Twitter account for A Current Affair also shared the news on Monday night
The official Twitter account for A Current Affair also shared the news on Monday night.
‘After 17 years in the hosting chair, our very own @tracygrimshaw has announced she will be stepping down from presenting A Current Affair at the end of the year. Thank you, Tracy,’ the post read.
In January 2006, Grimshaw took over from Ray Martin as host of A Current Affair, her most well-known news role.
In January 2006, Grimshaw took over from Ray Martin as host of A Current Affair, her most well-known news role. (Pictured at the Logies in 2006)
‘She put me to shame,’ Martin said. ‘She’s so good. I love what she does and I love watching her.’
A young Grimshaw started her career as a reporter in Nine’s Melbourne newsroom in 1981.
The journalist then began hosting National Nine News from 1995 until 2005, before starring on The Midday Show.
In that same year, Grimshaw began to work on the Today show with Steve Liebmann, which he described as a ‘great professional marriage’.
A young Grimshaw started her career as a reporter in Nine’s Melbourne newsroom in 1981
The journalist then began hosting National Nine News from 1995 until 2005
Significant stories Grimshaw has reported on over the years include the Thredbo landslide, the death of Princess Diana and the Beaconsfield Mine collapse.
The broadcaster celebrated 40 years at Channel Nine in October last year.
Her colleague Brady Halls paid tribute on the milestone, saying: ‘You are an outstanding journalist.
In 2005, Grimshaw began working on the Today show. (Pictured with the Today show team)
‘You are a wonderful colleague to all of us in the office, and a really good friend.’
Grimshaw’s notable ACA interviews included her sit-downs with former NRL player Matthew Johns and disgraced TV host Don Burke.
Her interviews with former Prime Minister Bob Hawke and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson were also heavily praised.
Grimshaw’s most notable ACA interviews included sit-downs with former NRL player Matthew Johns, disgraced TV host Don Burke, former Prime Minister Bob Hawke and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson
More recently, Grimshaw was given the opportunity to talk with then-prime minister Scott Morrison about the rape allegations made by former political staffer Brittany Higgins.
It was the first time Mr Morrison had sat down for an interview regarding the claims and the effect it was having on his government.
In May, she made headlines for her heated interview with Mr Morrison in the lead-up to the federal election.
More recently, Grimshaw was given the opportunity to talk with then-prime minister Scott Morrison about the rape allegations made by former political staffer Brittany Higgins
Grimshaw delivered a scathing assessment of Mr Morrison’s leadership skills.
The Channel Nine presenter didn’t mince her words, outlining the prime minister’s numerous failures and embarrassing gaffes in her eyes in recent years.
‘You said on Sunday that you saved the country, [but] you didn’t hold a hose [during the bushfires], you weren’t in your tinny plucking people off rooftops [during the floods in NSW and Queensland], and you didn’t do 16 hour days in PPE on Covid-19 wards,’ she fumed.
In May, she made headlines for her heated interview with Mr Morrison in the lead-up to the federal election
Grimshaw delivered a scathing assessment of Morrison’s leadership skills. (Pictured: Scott Morrison visiting bushfire-hit Sarsfield in Victoria)
‘You [also] didn’t have enough vaccines, you didn’t get enough RAT tests so we could finally have a holiday interstate for Christmas, and China is set up, based in the Solomon Islands.
‘Do you think maybe you slightly over-edged the part about saving the country?’
Morrison managed to keep his composure before informing the fired-up Grimshaw it was ‘quite a long list you’ve been able to pull together’.
Grimshaw celebrated 40 years at Channel Nine in October last year. (Pictured in May 2008)
The PM then launched a detailed response, highlighting his achievements as the nation’s leader.
Grimshaw quickly pointed out he had failed to mention other major criticisms about his leadership, including notoriously saying, ‘I don’t hold a hose, mate,’ after coming under fire for going on holiday in 2019 to Hawaii while Australia was in crisis.
The on-air clash proved embarrassing for Mr Morrison, who went on to lose the election to Anthony Albanese.
‘She put me to shame,’ former ACA host Ray Martin said of Grimshaw last year. ‘She’s so good. I love what she does and I love watching her’
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