Lisa Wilkinson and Cassandra Thorburn both know what it’s like to have spent years side-by-side with Karl Stefanovic and on Tuesday night, they came face-to-face for the first time since Cass and Karl’s split in 2016.
Cassandra was interviewed by Lisa on The Project about her high profile appearance on Dancing With The Stars, which has seen her name appear regularly in the headlines for the past few weeks.
The 47-year-old is the first to admit that dancing is not her forte, and she was eliminated from the show on Monday night.
When Lisa and Cass reunited on The Project, Lisa didn’t hold back when questioning Cass’s motivations for appearing on a reality show.
“Cass, signing on for the show meant there was suddenly going to be this huge spotlight upon you. How have you felt about the way that’s all played out?” she asked.
But Cass replied that the “huge spotlight” was “exactly what I wanted”, because it meant she was given a profile to highlight the importance of palliative care.
“My dad passed away in November and I don’t think palliative care get enough attention so I wanted to highlight that,” she said.
Cass also wanted to set the record straight after years of intense media attention following her very public divorce from Stefanovic.
“But there had been so much, I guess, you thoughts about who I am and all of that and I just kind of decided decided that when it was offered to me, this is a great opportunity to show who I am without people speculating all the time and I’ll have a great time in the progress,” Cass explained.
Lisa Wilkinson interviewed Cass Thorburn on The Project on Tuesday night. (Image: Channel 10)
Lisa also asked Cass if she’d worked out how to navigate being in the public eye as a single mum.
“Yeah I’m happy, I’m very happy,” Cass replied.
“Like my memorable year dance on Dancing With The Stars. 2016 was my most memorable year and it was a happy dance because at the end of that year I’d gotten to
know myself better.
“I guess I just found my place as who I was and what was important to me all of a sudden and what was going to be best for my children when they’re with me.
“So I’ve embraced it. I’m really happy. Turns out I can’t dance and I like having a good time!” she joked.
READ NEXT: Cass and Karl’s son tells his side of the story
Cassandra Thorburn and her dance partner Marco. (Image: Channel 10)
Cass was criticised by the judges for her stiff moves. (Image: Channel 10)
They were eliminated on Monday night’s episode. (Image: Channel 10)
Cass and Lisa’s history goes way back and for years while they were on air together, Lisa and Karl battled constant competition from Sunrise in the ratings.
When they finally did win against their breakfast TV rivals, Cass didn’t hold back from sharing her thoughts, writing a Facebook status explaining the “huge toll” the Today Show took on her family life.
“Apparently Today Show finally won a year,” Cass wrote in a Facebook status at the time.
“This took a huge toll on my family and I, and I’m congratulating myself today for all the effort that went into making that happen.”
She went to explain her role behind the scenes as Karl’s partner.
“The suggestions, the story ideas, the constant counselling of questions for years,” she said.
“I’m giving myself a pat on the back tonight, as I know many people will also know how much effort I put into it.”
Lisa and Karl pictured with former Today Show presenter Richard Wilkins. (Image; Getty)
The pair worked together for a decade. (Image: Getty)
Now, Cass will actually be working at Channel 10, the same network where Lisa works, with a brand-new hosting gig on Studio 10.
“I’m doing some stuff with Studio 10 until the end of the year, going on about once a week,” Cass told the Australian Women’s Weekly.
“That will be great,” she said.
Cass is returning to her broadcast roots, having previously worked as a television producer prior to meeting Karl Stefanovic.
The pair have three children together, Jackson, 19, Ava, 13, and River, 12.
Watch Cassandra’s elimination on Dancing With The Stars in the video below. Story continues after video…
Karl and Cass met in the mid-1990s while working in Queensland. Stefanovic was with WIN Television and Thorburn with ABC radio in Rockhampton.
They split after 21 years together in 2016.
Last year, Cass opened up to The Australian Women’s Weekly about the tumultuous years following the separation.
“Last year, I declared that Karl really was dead to me, a man I no longer know, but the children still have their father,” she said.
“The flip-side of that is I feel like we’re dead to his family and almost anyone from our old life.”
“There has been practically no contact. I feel like we’ve been discarded and disposed of, replaced by a whole new line-up of starters.”
