The Georgie Gardner promise that could've cost Karl his job

Karl Stefanovic’s axing from Today may not have come as much of a shock to those directly involved with the show.

A report claims a promise about Karl’s employment was made a year ago to Georgie Gardner after she had replaced Lisa Wilkinson as co-host.

“She signed on to the show after having been assured she would only have to do one year with Karl,” an insider source reportedly told The Sunday Telegraph at the time.

“After that, he’s gone and Nine will recast and she will get to work with someone else.”

If that’s the case, the timeline does seem to match up with this week’s announcement that Karl will not be hosting Today in 2019.

Back in June Georgie admitted there was some ‘friction’ between herself and Karl.

Whilst the pair were guests on Hit Network’s Hughesy & Kate Show, Georgie and Karl were asked what their working relationship was like following the Ubergate scandal, where an explosive 45-minute conversation between Karl and his younger brother Peter revealed Karl thought Georgie needed to ‘step up’ in her role.

“There’s a fraction of friction between you two,” radio host Kate Langbroek said.

“A fraction too much friction,” Georgie responded.

Karl then said he was “deeply sorry” about the Ubergate scandal.

“Georgie was incredibly good about that, for God’s sake, I thought she was going to hit me!” he admitted.

However, Georgie was nonetheless stunned by the publication of the conversation.

“There was something in the paper that was alluding that there was going to be war at breakfast,” she explained. “And I thought, ‘I wonder who that is?’ And then it became, ‘Oh, hang on. It’s us.'”

On Wednesday it was announced Karl wouldn’t be returning to Today in 2019.

“Nine and Karl Stefanovic have agreed it is time for him to step off the Today Show,” news and current affairs director Darren Wick said in a statement.

“Karl remains on contract with the network and will continue to host This Time Next Year which records in February.

“An announcement on the new line up and format of the Today Show will be made in the coming weeks.”

“For the last 14 years I’ve co-hosted the best show on television. I can’t thank Nine enough for the opportunity. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be good enough to host this grand show for so long,” Karl said in a statement.

“Thanks to our viewers mostly, you are what matters most. It’s been a tough time. Thanks for hanging in there. I look forward to seeing you in another capacity at this great Network soon.”

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