- Weekend Today host Deb Knight called in as last-minute cover for Lisa
- Karl is business as usual as he discusses co-host’s shock departure
- Georgia Gardner, Chris Bath and Sylvia Jeffreys hotly tipped to permanently replace Lisa
Veteran journalist and television presenter Lisa Wilkinson announced her sudden departure from Channel Nine’s Today Show on Monday night.
And on Tuesday morning Karl Stefanovic was joined on the show by Deborah Knight.
However, it is unclear if the 44-year-old blonde will be Lisa’s permanent replacement as Georgia Gardner and Chris Bath are both hotly tipped to take over Lisa’s role.
Lisa’s replacement? Weekend Today host Deborah Knight joins Karl Stefanovic but will she be his new co-host now Wilkinson has departed?
Sylvia Jeffreys is also among contenders to replace Lisa long term.
Weekend Today host Deb Knight was called in as a last-minute replacement for Lisa Wilkinson after it was revealed the latter would not be returning.
Discussing his co-host’s shock departure during the show this morning, Karl was business as usual.
Addressing the issue, Karl said: ‘It’s a very big day for us on the show, and a very big day for Lisa Wilkinson — and we’ll have plenty more to say about that later in the program,’ he began.
‘As we always do, we will get on with the news of the day.’
However, the regular ‘news of the day’ segment proved awkward as Karl read out the front pages of all the top newspapers – all of which featured headlines on Lisa’s exit.
‘It came as a bit of a shock to us,’ Karl confessed, as he read each one out.
Lisa resigned on Monday night after Nine admitted it had been ‘disappointed’ not to reach a deal with Wilkinson but was ‘unable to meet the expectations’ of the morning television host and her manager.