A teary-eyed Georgie Gardner has announced she is leaving the Today show after seven years.
“I wanted to announce to you today that I’m going to be finishing up at TODAY,” she said.
“I make this decision with a very heavy heart because you are my family. But I feel that I actually need to get back to my own family now. I’m not leaving the Nine Network, I’ll still be around. It’s been amazing.”
The 48-year-old shared the shock news this morning in an emotional announcement to TODAY viewers and her colleagues.
“It has not been an easy decision to leave a show that is an Australian television institution,” she said on air this morning.
“TODAY is a program that has afforded me enormous opportunities and experiences and enabled me to forge lifelong friendships. It’s been a career highlight and a great privilege.
“I’m very grateful to the network for allowing me to put my family first.”
The shock news was met with sad reactions by her fellow hosts.
Lisa Wilkinson paid tribute to her co-host on instagram saying “Yes, sadly it’s true, Georgie is leaving @thetodayshow But she is staying with #channel9 and even filling in for me when I’m on hols. Will miss her terribly.”
“An incredible colleague, the truest of friends…and simply all class.”
Georgie will continue to contribute to the Nine news team.
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