Allison Langdon is set to take over as the new queen of Australian breakfast TV as the sun sets on Sam Armytage’s time at Channel Seven’s Sunrise.
The Today show host is certainly no stranger to making headlines, and her opinions have proven to be a hit with viewers as Nine continues to close the gap with Seven in the morning TV ratings battle.
On Tuesday, the experienced journalist raised more than a few eyebrows when she claimed most people could guess which member of the Royal Family allegedly had concerns over how ‘dark’ Prince Harry and Meghan’s son, Archie, would be.
Move over, Sam! How Today show host Allison Langdon (pictured) is becoming the new queen of breakfast TV after Sam Armytage announced her shock resignation from Sunrise
Part of the conversation: Allison’s commentary on Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey has made headlines around the world
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made the claim during their interview with Oprah Winfrey on Sunday but refused to name the person because it would be ‘damaging’.
Allison, 41, caused a stir when she said it was obvious to her who made the remark, but her co-anchor Karl Stefanovic wasn’t quite so convinced.
‘Without saying any names, if you read between the lines a little bit yesterday, I think most people are leaning towards a certain royal,’ she said.
Karl, 46, asked her: ‘Who?’
Success: The Nine presenter is certainly no stranger to making headlines, and her opinions have proven to be a hit with viewers. Pictured: Allison and Today co-anchor Karl Stefanovic
‘Well, it’s incredibly defamatory to say so,’ Allison said, choosing her words carefully, and insisting she wasn’t going to mention any names.
Karl seemed genuinely confused by what his co-host was suggesting, saying: ‘But I don’t know who you are talking about. It could be one of four.’
‘I just think there was enough hints that [Harry] dropped in that interview about his relationship with certain people,’ Allison explained.
‘I don’t know which one… No one has the courage to say it,’ Karl responded.
Claims: On Tuesday, Allison raised more than a few eyebrows when she claimed most people can guess which Royal family member allegedly had concerns over how ‘dark’ Prince Harry and Meghan’s son Archie would be
Allison’s controversial comments came one day after she took a swipe at departing Sunrise host Sam.
Sam, who joined Sunrise in 2013, tearfully announced her resignation on Monday.
‘The time has come for the sun to set on my time at Sunrise. I have always been brave and fearless in my career and this decision is no different,’ she said.
She explained she was leaving of her own choosing, and was looking forward to life away from the spotlight after a ‘bittersweet’ year that included the death of her mother, Libby, and her marriage to businessman Richard Lavender.
Quit: Allison’s comments came one day after she took a swipe at departing Sunrise host Sam. Sam, who joined Sunrise in 2013, tearfully announced her resignation on Monday
Time to say goodbye: Sam was comforted by her co-host David ‘Kochie’ Koch (right)
About an hour after Sam’s farewell, Allison subtly referenced Sam’s on-air resignation during the closing moments of the broadcast.
‘Well, for now I’d just like to say I am leaving,’ she told co-anchor Karl Stefanovic.
‘Are you?’ a puzzled Karl asked, then Allison said she was just leaving ‘the studio’.
The panel burst into laughter and entertainment reporter Brooke Boney said: ‘Ally, that is spicy. That is so spicy.’
Joke: The 41-year-old subtly referenced Sam’s on-air resignation during the closing moments of the broadcast. ‘Well, for now I’d just like to say I am leaving,’ she told co-anchor Karl Stefanovic. ‘Are you?’ a puzzled Karl asked, then Allison said she was just leaving ‘the studio’
Monday also marked Allison’s return to the Today panel after injuring herself during a segment about watersports last month.
The journalist had been off the air since undergoing knee surgery after falling from a hydrofoil during a pre-recorded segment on the Gold Coast on February 4.
Speaking on The Kyle and Jackie O Show last Thursday, Allison revealed for the first time the extent of her injuries – and said she ‘can’t wait’ to get back to work.
She listed her injuries after her Today co-host Karl Stefanovic said she had simply suffered a ‘bruised kneecap’.
‘I’ve done a right royal job on it,’ Allison said, correcting him, before revealing she’d actually broken her leg and dislocated a knee.
Ordeal: Monday also marked Allison’s return to the Today panel after injuring herself during a watersports segment on the Gold Coast on February 4
Allison was announced as the new co-host of Channel Nine’s Today show in January 2020 alongside Karl.
According to OzTAM figures, Karl and Allison are keeping rival show Sunrise on its toes, pulling in 190,000 metro viewers last week.
Sunrise still came out on top with a five-city audience of 222,000 but the gap between both programs is continuing to close.
Dream team: Allison was announced as the new co-host of Nine’s Today show in January 2020 alongside Karl Stefanovic. The duo are proving to be a hit with viewers and the breakfast show has continued to close the gap with Seven Network rivals Sunrise in the TV ratings battle
Career: Prior to landing a role on the Today show, Allison hosted 60 Minutes and Weekend Today
Allison joined Network Nine back in 2001 as a producer for Nightline. One year later, she landed a role as a producer for the 6pm National Nine News.
In 2004, she was famously one of the first journalists on the ground following the Australian Embassy Bombing in Jakarta.
Prior to landing a role on the Today show, Allison hosted 60 Minutes and Weekend Today.
During her eight years with 60 Minutes, she interviewed the Backstreet Boys, Neil Diamond, Kevin Rudd and tennis bad boy Bernard Tomic.
In 2008, Allison released her first book titled The Child Who Never Was: Looking for Tegan Lane, which is about the murder of newborn Tegan Lane by her mother Keli Lane.
Allison is mother to two children, son Mack, three, and daughter Scout, one, with husband Michael Willesee Jr.
Family: Allison is mother to two children, son Mack, three, and daughter Scout, one, with her husband Michael Willesee Jr