He’s been gracing the screens of Australian television for more than 11 years, but sources are suggesting Karl Stefanovic might finally be giving up the gig.
The Sunday Mail reported on the weekend that the long-running Today show host is in contract negotiations with Channel Nine to organise his step down from his co-hosting position.
The Mail’s report reads that, after 11 years, Karl is ready to give up the 3am wake up calls and move onto his preferred time slot: primetime.
Although the 41-year-old had a brief, yet relatively unsuccessful, run at the slot this year with his struggling panel show, The Verdict, sources report that the Gold Logie winner is keen to make his mark in night-time television.
“I would like to do more news based stuff,” Karl told The Sunday Mail of his post-Today plans, “A late show would be tremendous fun, something more entertainment focused, not like The Verdict.”
But worry not, the Today show might not be a Stefanovic-free zone for long. The Mail reported that Karl’s younger brother, Peter, who comes from a similar journalistic background and was picked up to fill in a position on the Weekend Today show, is in contention for the position.
Today’s sports host, Ben Fordham, has also reportedly been considered.
Rumours of Karl’s morning show demise come after reports that he and his co-host Lisa Wilkinson have been clashing.
Karl and Lisa, 55, have allegedly locked horns more than once over their long tenure as co-hosts and the tension is reportedly straining the relationship.
Karl is currently in the final stages of negotiations with Nine’s David Gyngell on his seven-figure salary.
