Today Show to be led by two women with Deborah Knight's appointment

An Australian first: Today Show to be women-led with Deborah Knight’s appointment

In an Australian first Channel Nine’s breakfast program The Today Show will be helmed by two women after broadcaster Deborah Knight was announced as Karl Stefanovic’s replacement.

Knight will helm the show alongside Georgie Gardner who replaced Lisa Wilkinson in late 2017. Her appointment has been met with praise and good wishes from colleagues with her work ethic and professionalism  noted by many.

Nine’s breakfast show has undergone something of a mini “evolution” since the longtime host Stefanovic was let go from the Today gig in December after a controversial and tumultuous year.

In addition to a new cohost in Knight and a new executive producer in Steven Burling, the new line up will include Tom Steinfort as the newsreader and Brooke Boney as the new entertainment correspondent.

Boney was a newsreader at triple j and is a proud Gamilaroi Gomeroi woman. Her appointment, announced late last year, was welcomed as momentous for a talented broadcaster as well as being a win for diversity.

She is one of very few indigenous women to appear on commercial television and her appointment to a role previously held by industry veteran Richard Wilkins is significant.

In choosing two female co-hosts the Today Show has followed in the footsteps of its US namesake. America’s Today program has been led by Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb since 2018 after longtime host Matt Lauer was let go in late 2017 after allegations of sexual harassment were levelled at him.

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