He’s worked with an array of female co-hosts over the years, but Today’s Karl Stefanovic has one clear favourite.
Speaking to The Kyle And Jackie O Show on Wednesday, Karl, 45, named his current co-host Ally Langdon, 41, as the one closest to his heart.
‘I have never enjoyed the show more than right now,’ Karl, who previously hosted Today alongside the likes of Lisa Wilkinson and Georgie Gardner, enthused.
‘The best time I’ve ever had on the show’: Karl Stefanovic, 45, revealed on Wednesday’s episode of The Kyle And Jackie O SHow that his person he’s most enjoyed hosting Today with is his current co-star Ally Langdon, 41 (left)
‘It’s been a tough year… but the camaraderie we have, the fun we have on set in-between all the other serious stuff, is the best time I’ve ever had on the show,’ he added.
However, by heaping praise upon Ally, Karl was also taking a clear dig at his former co-hosts – including Lisa Wilkinson with whom he is rumoured to be feuding.
Lisa and Karl co-hosted the show from 2007, and were long considered the king and queen of breakfast television.
Didn’t make the cut: By heaping praise upon Ally, Karl was also taking a clear dig at his former co-hosts – several of whom are said to be on bad terms with the father-of-four. Pictured: Former Today host Lisa Wilkinson
However, while the pair initially enjoyed electric chemistry on-screen, things fizzled in October 2017 when Lisa dramatically departed Today amid a pay equality dispute.
The incident is said to have sparked a long-running feud between Lisa and Karl.
Similarly, Karl is rumoured to have a fraught relationship with former co-host Georgie Gardner, who joined Today’s helm in 2018.
Thank you, next! In 2007, Lisa Wilkinson joined the team and became the fifth woman in under two years who had been hired to co-host Today with Karl
Oops! It was widely believed that Georgie Gardner and Karl had fallen out after the Ubergate scandal in March, 2018
At the time, viewers sensed tensions between her and co-host Karl, but the pair insisted there was any bad blood.
However, in March 2018 Karl was caught complaining about Georgie on speaker phone to his brother while riding in the back of an Uber.
The incident has since been dubbed the ‘Ubergate scandal’.
The original: Karl has been paired with a succession of female co-hosts since he first went on air with Tracy Grimshaw (right) 15 years ago
Not great: Jessica Rowe replaced Tracy in late 2005, but the lack of chemistry between the new pair meant that ratings crashed
Karl has been paired with a succession of female co-hosts since he first went on air with Tracy Grimshaw 15 years ago.
Karl co-hosted Today with long-standing presenter Tracy Grimshaw in 2005, before poor ratings saw her axed and replaced with Channel Ten newsreader Jessica Rowe.
Unfortunately, the lack of chemistry between the pair meant that ratings crashed, while rival program Sunrise was pulling in twice Today’s audience.
Model host: Model Sarah Murdoch (far fight) replaced Jessica Rowe during the summer season of 2007
Dramatic end: The show’s news reporter Kellie Connolly (pictured in 2007) was then brought in, still in 2007, hosting the show for just two months before she dramatically collapsed on air. Kelly moved on to host Nine’s Nightline before being made redundant from the role in 2009
A Channel Nine source told The Age at the time: ‘(Karl) just sits there and doesn’t say anything and she feels obliged to fill the gaps.
‘Sunrise is all about the interaction. There is none on Today because Karl never says much.’
Jessica was sacked by Nine CEO Eddie McGuire in 2007, three months into her maternity leave.
Filling in: With Lisa Wilkinson’s abrupt departure, Deborah Knight (right) stepped in to take the reins alongside Karl until the end of the year in 2017
Model Sarah Murdoch replaced Jessica Rowe during the summer season of 2007, appearing as a temporary co-host for four months.
The show’s news reporter Kellie Connolly was then brought in, hosting the show for just two months before she dramatically collapsed on air.
Following Lisa Wilkinson’s departure in October 2017, Deborah Knight stepped in to take the reins alongside Karl until the end of 2017.
Changes: In 2018, Georgie Gardner (right), a Nine newsreader, was brought on board, and viewers sensed tensions between her and co-host Karl