Awkward moment Richard Wilkins is interviewed by his Today 'replacement'

The new-look Today show kicked off on Monday morning, with new entertainment reporter Brooke Boney officially taking Richard ‘Dickie’ Wilkins’ spot on the panel this week.

It was announced in December the veteran entertainment reporter would be taking a step back from his role on Today, and adding insult to injury, he was already spotted being interviewed by his replacement.

Former Triple J newsreader Brooke had to interview her predecessor, who was with his girlfriend Virginia Burmeister, at the Crown IMG Tennis party in Melbourne over the weekend.

It could have been a super awkward moment, but the 64-year-old Channel Nine identity seemed to take it all in his stride.

The interview between the pair aired on the show this morning, showing Brooke asking Wilkins for advice.

“This is my first red carpet event, can you give me some advice?” she asked the veteran.

“Don’t stuff it up or it could be your last,” he joked.

The Today show insists Brooke is not ‘replacing’ Wilkins, instead she would be working closely with him.

He did appear on the show on Monday morning, interviewing a group of young tennis players from local tennis clubs, who were attending the first day of the Australian open.

News and current affairs director Darren Wick confirmed in December that Triple J’s Brooke Boney would join Today as entertainment correspondent this year.

Wilkins remains entertainment editor at Nine, but is set to have a greater role on Today Extra that airs after 9am.

Despite taking a step back from his position, Wilkins opened up about the changes and immediately showed support for his new colleague.

“The entertainment beat just continues to get bigger and bigger all the time and it’s no longer a one-man job, and with the show having a complete reset I’m thrilled and delighted to be welcoming Brooke on board,” ­Wilkins told the Sunday Telegraph.

After the announcement, Indigenous reporter Brooke said she was excited about the opportunity, and called Wilkins a ‘legend in the business’.

“I feel I’ve got a lot to learn from Dickie,” she said at the time.

In 2017, Wilkins celebrated 30 years with Channel Nine. The showbiz veteran was the network’s first MTV Australia host back in 1987, before he went on to host Entertainment Tonight in the late 1990s.

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