A painfully awkward segment on the Today show on Friday has laid bare the tensions and infighting on set of Channel Nine’s struggling breakfast program.
Shortly before 6am, Deborah Knight apologised to sports presenter Tony Jones after he had berated her for asking if he would bring his dog to the racetrack.
Deborah’s attempt at ‘banter’ failed miserably, with the stilted conversation leaving no doubt as to how the presenters feel about each other behind the scenes.
Uncomfortable: A painfully awkward segment on the Today show on Friday has laid bare the tensions and infighting on set of Channel Nine’s struggling breakfast program. Pictured (left to right): Tom Steinfort, Deborah Knight, Georgie Gardner and Tony Jones
‘Deb, we’re at a racetrack,’ Tony snapped back. ‘Probably not a great idea to bring the dog, I wouldn’t have thought.’
‘I thought it might’ve been good to have Archie there to cheer you up,’ Deborah responded, trying to salvage the segment.
As newsreader Tom Steinfort began to speak, Tony cut in: ‘I’m in a great mood, I’m in a fantastic mood… I just love being here.’
Deborah, who seemed genuinely affronted by Tony sarcasm, replied: ‘Okay, well sorry for asking. Never mind. Good on you, TJ.’
Bad mood? Shortly before 6am, Tony Jones (pictured) became visibly irritated with co-anchors Deborah Knight and George Gardner, rudely shutting down their attempts at ‘banter’
Prior to this awkward exchange, Tony had already been involved in an uncomfortable back and forth with Deborah’s co-host, Georgie Gardner.
Tony had asked the anchors which Australian dishes they would include on a menu for French tourists, to which Georgie replied: ‘A kangaroo burger, maybe.’
While kangaroo meat is sold in supermarkets across Australia and has been exported to over 55 countries, her answer was met with a condescending response.
‘Oh, you’d just go and slaughter a kangaroo, would you, Georgie?’ Tony said.
Unpopular: Today’s ratings have been on a steady decline since 2016, with viewers flocking to Channel Seven’s Sunrise and ABC News Breakfast instead
When Georgie argued that kangaroo meat is widely available across the country, Tony responded abrasively: ‘You can’t eat Skippy.’
It comes amid rumours the current Today hosts will be axed by the end of the year and replaced by former presenter Karl Stefanovic and 60 Minutes reporter Allison Langdon.
Today’s ratings have been on a steady decline since 2016, with Channel Seven’s Sunrise, co-hosted by Sam Armytage and David Koch, soaring ahead.
Karl, 45, is said to be in talks with Nine to return in a last-ditch attempt to win back viewers lost to Sunrise and ABC News Breakfast.
New lineup: It comes amid rumours the current Today hosts will be axed by the end of the year and replaced by former presenter Karl Stefanovic (left) and 60 Minutes reporter Allison Langdon (right)
Nine executives infamously sacked Karl as host of the Today show in December last year, after the program’s dwindling ratings were blamed on his personal life.
Karl had separated from his first wife, Cassandra Thorburn, in September 2016 and began dating a younger woman, Jasmine Yarbrough, months later.
Karl and Jasmine married in Mexico in the same month he was axed from Today.
Will the prodigal son return? Nine executives infamously sacked Karl as host of the Today show in December last year, after the program’s dwindling ratings were blamed on his personal life. Pictured with his wife, Jasmine Yarbrough, on April 4, 2018 in Sydney
The couple are now believed to be trying for a baby.
Speaking to Nova FM’s Fitzy & Wippa on Friday, Karl confessed he was gunning to get his old job back.
‘That’s what I keep trying to tell Channel Nine, that I’m the lucky charm,’ he said. ‘If they want to pad me up and send me in, I’m ready to go in and we’ll have a win.’
