Today viewers will wake up with a female-led presenting team with Georgie Gardner and Deb Knight hosting the show in 2019 https://t.co/RkkXLHMeRe | @nathanaelcooper
— The Sydney Morning Herald (@smh) January 5, 2019
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.
Great appointment – @deborah_knight is a top notch broadcaster and a wonderful person. https://t.co/q7mLVMxlS8
— Leigh Sales (@leighsales) January 5, 2019
Warmest congratulations to the fab new team just announced at @thetodayshow of @GeorgieG @deborah_knight @tomsteinfort and tonyjones9.
I sincerely wish them all the very best in the… https://t.co/vwMJzs0Frl— Lisa Wilkinson (@Lisa_Wilkinson) January 5, 2019
Outstanding appointment for @9NewsAUS’s hardest working presenter @deborah_knight .. and a terrific person. Well done Deb. Good call too on @tomsteinfort – one of 9’s very best journalists. https://t.co/a9f3XXAOzw
— Gaven Morris (@gavmorris) January 5, 2019
Thrilled @Channel9 had the courage to give the gig to @deborah_knight. The sands are shifting-the woman who quietly keeps her head down with diligence, hard work, humour, professionalism & grace-who consistently fills in for the big guns-is finally rewarded. A narrative for now.
— Nikki Gemmell (@NikkiGemmell) January 6, 2019
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.
Triple J broadcaster Brooke Boney will join the 'Today' breakfast show, making her one of the few young Aboriginal women to appear on commercial television. https://t.co/o5WCi9NjFP
— @NITV (@NITV) December 21, 2018
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.