Shock claims Karl Stefanovic 'will be axed from Nine by Easter'

Just weeks after he was dropped from his role as Today show co-host, it is claimed Karl Stefanovic will depart Channel Nine altogether by Easter.

The host – who has a $6 million multi-year deal with the network – is due to finish filming for his upcoming show, This Time Next Year, at the end of February, and it’s reported he won’t be staying long after that.

“Karl has to film the final segments for his show This Time Next Year at the end of February and that goes into most of March and after that they want him gone,” a source tells The Daily Telegraph.

However a representative for Nine has denied the report.

They told the paper that they were “hoping to continue working with Stefanovic throughout the year.”

Deborah Knight was confirmed as Karl’s replacement on Today, alongside current host Georgie Gardner, while Tom Steinfort was announced to replace Sylvia Jeffreys as newsreader, and Brooke Boney will join as entertainment reporter, following in the footsteps of Richard Wilkins.

The new hosting team will kick off their duties from January 14, but not before long-time sports reporter Tim Gilbert was farewelled.

After five years with Today, Tim was given a heartfelt send off for his last show on Friday, before he is replaced by new sports reporter, Tony Jones.

Many couldn’t help but compare the farewell, which included the crew gathering around the star for sausage rolls and a mud cake, to the fact that audiences didn’t get a real chance to say goodbye to Karl, who was dropped while he was on his honeymoon.

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