Today presenter caught reminding himself to be 'nice and happy' on live TV

The new-look Today show has been making headlines for many reasons since its debut this week, and the latest involves a very awkward live television gaffe.

Sports reporter Tony Jones was caught giving himself a pep talk of sorts on Monday when the show kicked off, not realising the cameras were actually rolling.

“Nice and happy,” he was heard uttering under his breath before laughing, as co-hosts Georgie Gardner, Deborah Knight and Tom Steinfort watched on with their TV smiles ready to go.

It’s left viewers wondering, was Tony reminding himself to be “nice and happy” on TV, or was he responding to a producer speaking into an earpiece?

On Friday he ended the speculation by addressing the awkward moment on the Today show.

‘Clearly I said ‘nice and happy’,” the 57-year-old confessed.

“I think from memory the boss had yelled out, ‘Liven up, grumble guts!”‘

“Initially I thought he was talking to you, Georgie… But I thought, ‘Hang on, I think that might have been directed at me’.

“So I didn’t realise that went to air. It could have been worse, given what we normally talk about during the ad breaks,” he added.

It’s been quite a week for the Channel Nine breakfast show which has replaced Karl Stefanovic with Deborah Knight as Georgie’s co-host.

The show reportedly delivered its lowest ratings in 10 years, while entertainment reporter Brooke Boney has been at the centre of a social media storm after expressing her views about changing the date of Australia Day.

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