Two years ago, Peter Stefanovic and Sylvia Jeffreys were declared the new golden couple of Australian TV following their spectacular wedding in Kangaroo Valley.
But fast-forward to now and the fairytale might be well and truly over, with friends claiming the pair’s relationship is hanging by a thread.
“They’re both under enormous pressure work-wise – there’s no denying they’ve gone from hero to zero in a short period of time,” reveals a close acquaintance.
The latest spanner in the works is Sylvia’s new job at A Current Affair. After leaving Today earlier this year amid the “Stefanovic bloodbath” – which saw Peter’s departure from Nine after 15 years and his brother Karl being dropped from his gig as Today host – last week it was revealed Sylvia, 32, would be joining ACA.
Sylvia’s new job at ACA has put pressure on the couple’s relationship. (Image: Getty)
Green-eyed monster
However, her new position has left a bitter taste in Pete’s mouth.
The foreign correspondent began his Nine career at ACA in 2004, and is now “feeling displaced”, continues the source.
“He was once the star reporter and now he’s having to face the fact that his wife actually got a better gig ahead of him. Word is he’s furious. He always considered himself the man in the trenches and now his wife will be covering the big stories.”
Since Peter, 37, was shown the door by Nine, he’s struggled to find a gig to rival the one he had as host of Weekend Today.
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He’s reportedly taken meetings with the ABC and he also posted an advert in the Social Diary media newsletter, stating that he is on the job hunt and seeking relevant opportunities.
As Woman’s Day went to press, there were whispers Pete was being eyed up by Sky News for a presenter and columnist role.
However, our source believes if the job does eventuate, Peter will be on a significantly lower salary than Sylvia, and the $400,000 he was earning at Nine.
Tension rising: “He was once the star reporter and now he’s having to face the fact that his wife actually got a better gig ahead of him. He always considered himself the man in the trenches and now his wife will be covering the big stories.”
Is Karl to blame?
Karl’s younger brother says he’s been using his time off to “reset” but also emphasised he’s ready to return to work.
“He’s become a bit of a stress case,” adds the source.
“He’s wandering around like a lost dog looking for a new home. The pressure on their marriage is extreme. They’ve gone from being at the top in their careers to absolutely nothing.”
Peter may blame Karl for his predicament, according to our source.
Sylvia, Karl and Pete in happier times. (Image: Instagram)
Sylvia too has realised she should have distanced herself from Karl and his new wife Jasmine Yarbrough months ago, considering the scandal their relationship and lavish Mexican nuptials caused.
The wedding was reportedly the final straw for Nine, with industry insiders convinced it’s what ultimately led to the new Today team.
Karl, 44, is still getting paid the big bucks by Nine, but is barely working and is yet to resume filming the second half of This Time Next Year, a fact that friends say would only anger Pete and Sylvia more.
“At least financially Sylvia is still being paid, but they’re likely carrying a big mortgage like many couples with a piece of prime real estate in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. The stress of money problems must be looming every week that Pete isn’t working. They may end up throwing it all in and going home to their native Queensland to try and salvage things.”
