Ever since Lisa Wilkinson left the Today Show in a cloud of smoke, the entire breakfast show industry has been playing a game of musical chairs.
But the music doesn’t seem to want to stop.
Studio 10’s ray of sunshine Sarah Harris is up front and centre in today’s line-up of who could possibly sit next to Karl Stefanovic.
She’s funny, likable, wickedly smart and if you can take on the likes of Ita Buttrose, you certainly can pull King Karl back into line…
Sarah with her Studio 10 colleagues: Jessica Rowe, Ita Buttrose and Joe Hildebrand.
But Sarah has no desire to move to the Nine Network.
The expectant mother spoke to Confidential, squashing any chatter of a deflection.
“It’s very flattering, but it would never happen,” the 36-year-old, who is set to welcome her second child next month, remarked.
“I’m loving life at Ten, there is a lot to love and people talk a lot about work-life balance and I feel like I’ve finally struck it. It’s a nice place to be.”
Sarah does have ties to Channel Nine, with her first job in Sydney being with the Today show as a reporter… But Channel Ten has something she can’t walk away from.
The network is set to welcome their new queen Lisa Wilkinson next year… And everyone is ridiculously excited.
“There’s a really great vibe around Channel 10 at the moment, we’re super excited to have a broadcaster like Lisa Wilkinson on board,” she remarked.
Sarah and her husband Tom Ward can’t wait for their son Paul to meet his brother next month.
Channel Ten are now owned by American giant CBS, and according to Sarah, the acquisition has breathed new life into the company.
“There’s a real buzz around here again.”
“A rising tide lifts all boats. It goes to show that Ten is serious about local content and local issues to bring in someone of the calibre of Lisa Wilkinson who I have been a massive fan of for a number of years, particularly having worked with her and seen how she operates.”
Sarah does have ties with Today, but is very happy at Studio 10.
These guys WON’T be waking up with Today
Seriously… WHO WILL IT BE?
It almost feels like we’re stuck in a ’90s slasher film.
One by one a hot candidate for the big job of co-hosting the Today show gets bumped off the list.
Who we know definitely will not be Karl Stefanovic’s right hand gal:
1. Lisa Wilkinson
The 57-year-old announced her departure from Today on Twitter, writing: “I have some news. I’m sad to say that today was my last day on The today show.”
Obviously, not Lisa.
In the face of equal pay, women’s rights and standing up for herself, Lisa kicked started a chain of events that will change TV forever.
Next year she’ll joining The Project’s newsdesk for a rumoured $2.3 million contract… Making her the highest paid woman on Aussie TV.
2. Carrie Bickmore
“Nine’s loss is our gain here at Network Ten,” Carrie said of her new colleague.
Despite reports stating she isn’t feeling crash-hot about sharing her panel with Lisa, Carrie is still very much Ten’s sweetheart.
Plus she re-signed with the network a few weeks ago, so she’s here to stay.
3. Georgie Gardener
Georgie is still a beloved member of the Nine network.
Georgie was touted as the top pick to step into Lisa Wilkinson’s shoes.
But earlier this week the mum-of-two officially took her hat out of the ring.
The Daily Telegraph reported that Channel Nine’s CEO Hugh Marks “was personally involved in the negotiations with Gardner after she was identified as the best option to join Karl Stefanovic on the Today show couch.”
But the 46-year-old reportedly turned down the network boss, citing the “punishing hours” were a no-go for her.
Who’s actually left to co-host Today
With Karl Stefanovic’s HUGE salary (who can forget about that secret extra million), we’re panicking that there quite possibly will be no budget for a Today co-anchor.
While it’s believed Karl’s sister-in-law Sylvia Jeffreys’ contract is still in negotiations – for now, insiders are staying calming and seeing reason with a different contender.
They’re putting their money on Lisa’s current fill-in Deborah Knight.
“Gardner’s rejection leaves Knight, who has been filling in for Wilkinson since she left, as the front-runner,” an insider explained to The Telegraph.
