Today farewells Tim Gilbert in style after Karl Stefanovic left 'without a proper send-off'

After five years with the Today show, Tim Gilbert marked his final day as sports reporter for the breakfast television show.

The Channel Nine program, which experienced a mass exodus in recent weeks, put on an extravagant farewell for Tim, arguably much greater than the goodbyes Karl Stefanovic and Sylvia Jeffreys received.

Not only was Today’s official Instagram page flooded with a series of photos to 51-year-old Tim, but the on-air farewell for the reporter was quite the inclusive affair with cast and crew gathering around the star for sausage rolls and a mud cake in the studio.

“It wouldn’t be a Timmy farewell without sausage rolls!” read a caption on the show’s Instagram stories.

Meanwhile a group shot of the cast and crew was captioned: “Thanks for all the memories @timmygilbert67! You’ll be missed dearly by your #9Today family”.

Tim shared a photo of the glorious mud cake he was given on Friday morning, along with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Brut champagne.

Weatherman Steven Jacobs shared a touching tribute for his colleague, saying: “After 23 years at Nine and 5 on the Today Show this legend leaves us today.

“A great talent, a font of sporting knowledge, an amazing family man, friend and a true gentleman. Your big happy smile, quick wit and love of life will be greatly missed. We love you @timmygilbert67@thetodayshow.”

Last month Karl Stefanovic was dumped from Today after 10 years as host, the announcement made while he was overseas on his honeymoon following his Mexico wedding to Jasmine Yarbrough.

Despite his co-star, Richard Wilkins, delivering a heartfelt speech to camera in honour of the ‘fantastic, intuitive and intelligent journalist’, viewers couldn’t help but express their disappointment that Karl wasn’t there himself to be farewelled in style.

“Very sad Channel 9 don’t have Karl on air for them to say goodbye. What a cop out to announce it when Karl is off air you will be missed Karl,” one person said.

“Why does Channel 9 not give long serving host a proper send off?,” another person said.

“Pretty poor effort by ch9 & the TODAY show……1st you let Lisa go without a proper send off & now Karl!! Making Dickie do his tribute at 5:45am just shows the lack of respect you lot had for Karl……pretty disappointed,” another viewer said.

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