Lisa Wilkinson lit up our screens for nine years as the host of the Nine Network’s Carols by Candlelight. However this year, Today Extra host Sonia Kruger will take over the reins.
This will be Sonia’s first time co-hosting the festive event on Christmas Eve and she knows she has big shoes to fill.
In October, Lisa made the shocking announcement that she was leaving the Today show after 10 years as co-host. After Lisa’s management and Nine couldn’t reach an agreement over contract negotiations, the 57-year-old revealed she was going to be joining The Project at Network Ten.
Lisa’s Today replacement, Georgie Gardner, was announced a little over a week ago and she will be stepping into the role in 2018.
Sonia revealed exclusively to TV WEEK that Lisa had some advice and well wishes for her new Carols gig.
“Lisa sent me a message to say, ‘Congratulations!’ and, ‘You’re going to have a great time hosting it because it’s such a beautiful event,’” Sonia, 52, reveals. “So that’s a really lovely thing to do.
“I’m just excited to be part of it, really.”
David has co-hosted the Carols with Lisa for four years.
Sonia, mum to two-year-old Maggie, will co-host the Carols in Melbourne alongside her Today Extra co-host David Campbell.
“It’s such a magical time of year for kids. Now with Maggie, I really have a new appreciation for Christmas,” Sonia says.
“It doesn’t get more special than that.”
