After a big promotion last year, Today’s Brooke Boney was meant to be the show’s rising star, so when she suddenly resigned, announcing she will be out the door after the Paris Olympic Games, it wasn’t long before warning bells in Brekkie Land started to ring.
Speaking exclusively to Woman’s Day, top TV insiders insist Nine “will stop at nothing” to replace Brooke, 36, with someone who can help beat rivals Sunrise – and it might even include a good old-fashioned poach!
Sources divulge that bosses at Nine have their eyes on Sunrise golden girl Katie Brown, who at 32 has already proven she is destined to become a TV superstar.
“Nine don’t like to take no for an answer and have had Katie on their radar for months,” the source divulges. “They’ve been waiting to pounce when the time was right, so when Brooke pulled the pin last week, the word was that everyone agrees – it’s time to strike on Katie”.
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While Brooke proved to be popular with her team, sources maintain that “it’s safe to say she divided the Today audience”.
In 2019, it was announced she would replace veteran entertainment guru Richard Wilkins after decades of being on the show, a move many believe didn’t help Today in their battle against Seven’s slick-looking Sunrise.
“There was also the shock decision to have Brooke take on an additional role as the coveted news presenter, leaving Alex Cullen after years in the chair suddenly relegated over to the sports desk,” confides the insider. “It’s no secret Alex wasn’t happy at the time, but he copped it on the chin.”
But with many tipping Katie as the short odds-on favourite to take on the dual role, interestingly, it’s been the growing shortlist of who doesn’t want the job that has everyone talking behind the scenes – most notably Today host Karl Stefanovic’s sister-in-law Sylvia Jeffreys!
“As much as co-host Sarah [Abo] would love her back, Sylvia has made it clear she doesn’t want the grief of 3am starts now that she and husband Peter have a young family – and she loves hosting alongside David Campbell on Today Extra.
“This used to be the holy grail of TV roles, but it’s all changed, which could have something to do with why Brooke was looking elsewhere for new opportunities to expand her horizons.
“There’s a bit of a feeling now that Nine can only beat Sunrise by trying to poach their biggest talents,” says the insider, who admits that while Sunrise favourite Edwina Bartholomew would be a firm favourite to defect, “everyone knows she’s embedded at Seven”.
“Katie will be good at keeping Karl under control, especially with her knockabout humour. She doesn’t mind having a good old laugh at herself – and right now that’s something that is very much needed at Today!”
