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Meet Ben Fordham: The new Karl Stefanovic

With embattled host Karl a dead man walking on Today, his close mate and family man Ben Fordham has his job โ€“ if he really wants it!
Ben Fordham jokes about Karl Stefanovic on Hard Chat
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Nine will offer Ben Fordham the plum co-hosting role on their failing breakfast show in a desperate bid to contain the โ€œtoxicโ€ fallout from Karl Stefanovicโ€™s plummeting popularity.

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โ€œHeโ€™s the only one management want to fill Karlโ€™s shoes,โ€ confirms one network insider.

โ€œHe ticks every box. Heโ€™s very likeable and engaging. Heโ€™s smart and dedicated.

โ€œBut most of all, heโ€™s the complete package โ€“ a devoted family man with a proven track record and a broad fan base.โ€

Ben at the 2014 Logie Awards with then Today Show hosts Lisa Wilkinson and Karl Stefanovic.

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The biggest problem facing Nine management is convincing 2GB drivetime star Ben to take the role.

He has maintained for months that he isnโ€™t interested in taking on the punishing 3am starts required for Today.

โ€œHis daughter Pearl just turned two last week, and Benny will always put his wife and kids first,โ€ reveals one close friend. โ€œNaturally heโ€™s worried the hours will completely unhinge their lives. And I know he and [wife] Jodie [Speers] are trying for their third child.โ€

READ MORE: Ben Fordham says family life is better since he left breakfast TV.

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Ben, 41, was a regular on Today until six years ago and has filled in for Karl during his annual summer holidays as well as co-hosting Australian Ninja Warrior. However, his focus in recent years has been radio and being the best dad possible to Pearl and three-year-old son Freddy.

โ€œI canโ€™t see him accepting it next year, but Ben is the first one to say โ€˜never say neverโ€™, and now that 2GB and Nine are the same company, a lot can change fast,โ€ explains the network insider.

โ€œIf the CEO thinks Ben is more valuable to Today than 2GB, itโ€™s going to be very hard for him to say no.โ€

Ben is a family man first and foremost.

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Nine also isnโ€™t going to have much change out of $2 million if it wants to get Ben.

โ€œHe makes a mint at 2GB with his salary package, which includes huge bonuses, and big bucks for live reads from dozens of sponsors, so itโ€™s going to have to be an eye-watering sum to get him to sign on the dotted line,โ€ our source says.

And it isnโ€™t just management that wants Ben to replace Karl. Today stars Georgie Gardner and Deb Knight are also lobbying management to get him on contract, and promising to do whatever they can to help make it work.

READ MORE: Meet Karl Stefanovicโ€™s rumoured Today Show replacements.

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Ben is friends with Today host Georgie Gardner.

โ€œGeorgie particularly is pushing for Ben to sign. Since Ubergate [when Peter Stefanovic and Karl bitched about Georgie and others] she can barely be civil with Karl, and it remains a little tense with Sylvia, too!โ€

Itโ€™s widely accepted in the TV industry that major changes are necessary to save ailing Today. Director of morning TV Mark Calvert is also expected to be axed at the end of the year, clearing the way for a complete revamp.

โ€œThe hot rumour is that they will keep Dickie [Richard Wilkins] and Georgie and get rid of the rest,โ€ our source says, adding there have even been discussions about trying to poach Seven presenter Edwina Bartholomew from Sunrise.

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WATCH: The awkward moment Today brings up the Ubergate scandal.

The awkward moment Today Show guest brings up Ubergate with Karl Stefanovic
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