Tracy Grimshaw recalls the early days of her career as she celebrates 40 years at Nine

Tracy Grimshaw recalls the early days of her career as she celebrates a staggering four decades at Nine

Tracy Grimshaw has recalled the early days of her career as she celebrates 40 years at Channel Nine.

The 61-year-old told 9Now on Thursday how she landed a job at the network after two years of newspaper experience.

‘The first story I ever shot in television didn’t go to air. But it was an interview which proved to be quite prophetic on a long-term basis,’ Tracey revealed.

‘You don’t last 40 years on luck’: Tracy Grimshaw (pictured) has recalled the early days of her career as she celebrates 40 years at Nine

One week after starting the job she was asked to shoot an interview with the editor of Debrett’s Peerage, a magazine in the UK.

Tracy continued: ‘When I started, I realised how much work I had to do and how hard I had to work to be good enough to justify them having the faith in me.

‘You don’t last 40 years on luck, but you also don’t stay 40 years unless you love it.’

Tracy started her career with Channel Nine in 1981 as a news reporter.

She hosted Today with Steve Liebmann from 1996 until 2005.

'I had to work to be good': The 61-year-old told 9Now, she landed a job at the network after two years of newspaper experience

‘I had to work to be good’: The 61-year-old told 9Now, she landed a job at the network after two years of newspaper experience

Karl Stefanovic replaced Steve in 2005 and soon after Tracy left to host A Current Affair and was replaced on Today by Jessica Rowe.

On Tuesday, Karl shared a tribute to his Channel Nine stablemate Tracy to celebrate a milestone 40 years with the broadcaster.

The Today host shared a throwback photo to Instagram from when they briefly hosted Nine’s breakfast show together in 2005.

In a lengthy caption, Karl congratulated the A Current Affair anchor, 61, on her stellar career and described her as a ‘guiding light’ and ‘master of our craft’.

Milestone: Tracy started her career with Channel Nine in 1981 as a news reporter. She hosted Today with Steve Liebmann from 1996 until 2005. Karl Stefanovic replaced Steve in 2005 and soon after Tracy left to host A Current Affair

Milestone: Tracy started her career with Channel Nine in 1981 as a news reporter. She hosted Today with Steve Liebmann from 1996 until 2005. Karl Stefanovic replaced Steve in 2005 and soon after Tracy left to host A Current Affair

‘It seems like last year… well, not quite,’ he wrote.

‘As a 30-year-old recruit out of LA I was given the unnerving honour of co-hosting the Today show. Among many other things Trace taught me how to prepare and interview in my own way,’ he added.

‘She taught me not to be needy because the business is tough. And she taught me how to drink and never show it the next day. Well two out of three ain’t bad,’ he said.

‘You are a master of our craft. And we are all fortunate to have you as a guiding light. Congrats on 40 years.’

'You are a master of our craft': On Tuesday, Karl shared a tribute to Channel Nine stablemate Tracy to celebrate a milestone 40 years with the broadcaster

‘You are a master of our craft’: On Tuesday, Karl shared a tribute to Channel Nine stablemate Tracy to celebrate a milestone 40 years with the broadcaster

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