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Lisa Wilkinson's memoir sparks bold response from Karl: 'Absolute horse****'

Karl Stefanovic has poured cold water on 'horse****' rumours that he's planning his own tell-all book in response to former co-star Lisa Wilkinson's highly-anticipated upcoming memoir.

Lisa's book, It Wasn’t Meant To Be Like This, is expected to detail her shock departure from the Today show in 2017 over a reported gender pay gap dispute, as well as her relationship with her then-co-host, Karl.

Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson arrive at the 59th Annual Logie Awards at Crown Palladium on April 23, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia
Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson at the 2017 Logies, before Lisa's shock departure from Today. Photo: Getty Images.

'Absolute horse****'

But when quizzed on The Kyle and Jackie O Show about his supposed literary plans, Karl responded in typical Karl fashion.

"That's absolute horse**** and I'll never write a book because I'm too bloody lazy!" he told Kyle Sandilands on Monday morning.

Kyle asked him point-blank if he was concerned about how he might be portrayed in Lisa's autobiography, but Karl said he wasn't worried in the slightest.

"No mate, you know what, Lisa and I had 10 years together right, and I think in any kind of working relationship there are going to be ups and downs and those things are heightened with breakfast TV," he said.

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Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson on set of the Today show
Lisa and Karl co-hosted Today together for 10 years. Photo: Channel Nine

Karl added that he thinks Lisa has "every right to go and say and do whatever she likes," and that he has 'bigger things' on his mind than feeling anxious about an ex-colleague's book.

He did, however, admit that he isn't an 'easy guy to work with' and seemed prepared to cop any criticism coming his way.

"I think there are things that have happened over those 10 years that aren't going to read well," he said.

Sources say Lisa is herself 'concerned' with Karl's reaction as he "may not love how he is depicted".

Karl finished up by saying that he wishes Lisa all the best and will always remember their time together on Today 'fondly'.

Karl's comments to Kyle and Jackie O are in contrast to earlier reports by Woman's Day that he was 'in talks' with Hachette to secure a book deal after resigning with his former manager Sharon Finnigan.

"He will go warts and all if Lisa's book is as racy as everyone is expecting and he's ready with a back-up plan, and with Sharon in his corner, he's giving himself his best chance," a source told the magazine.

The front cover of Lisa Wilkinson's autobiography, It Wasn’t Meant To Be Like This
Lisa's autobiography, It Wasn’t Meant To Be Like This is set for release on October 27. Photo: Instagram/lisa_wilkinson

Lisa tells all

It Wasn’t Meant To Be Like This is set for release on October 27, but the revelations are already coming thick and fast as author Lisa Wilkinson begins the promo tour.

Over the weekend, the 61-year-old sat down with her Sunday Project co-host Hamish MacDonald to give a sneak peek at the contents of her book.

Lisa spoke about feeling "humiliated and betrayed" after she was abruptly dropped by Channel Nine as co-host of the Today show following her request for equal pay.

"I think the idea was to humiliate me because I'd been in negotiations to try and close the gender pay gap," she said.

Lisa Wilkinson on The Project.
Lisa joined The Project shortly after leaving Today in 2017. Photo: Instagram/lisa_wilkinson

When Hamish questioned how big the gap was, she replied: "Doesn't get much bigger than the gap that I experienced. I was very expendable. I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye to my audience, I was told 'that's it'."

As for her friendship with her former co-host Karl Stefanovic, a teary Lisa admitted: "Look, we're not really in touch."

The mum-of-three also opened up to Hamish about an alleged sexual assault she suffered at the age of 15, saying it's a "weight off my shoulders" to share her story.

Lisa's memoir will also cover her extensive journalism career, including becoming the youngest editor of Dolly magazine at 21 years old and later the editor of Cleo, as well as her relationship with her husband Peter FitzSimons and how they first met.

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Additional reporting by Lachlan Guertin.

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