Comedian Andy Lee has confirmed the rumours that he was tapped to replace Karl Stefanovic on The Today Show in 2019.
It wasn’t too long ago that Karl Stefanovic left the Today Show after his infamous Uber scandal. Who can forget when Georgia Gardner and Deborah Knight tried to hold down the fort?
The ratings took a hit and lots of names were tossed around on who could join the team to boost ratings. Here at B&T, we personally wanted Kyle Sandiland’s to take over mornings but nothing stuck and eventually, Stefanovic came back and reclaimed his throne as the king of breakfast television.
Let’s face it Stefanovic belongs in Breakfast television as much as Bert Newton did. He continues to make headlines for Nine, remember when he went viral last month for roasting that Russian tennis player? He is a television personality that continues to resonate with the Aussie public.
However, Andy Lee has just confirmed rumours that he was in talks to replace Stefanovic.
News.com.au has reported that Lee shared on the podcast, I’ve Got News For You hosted by Andrew Buclow that he was sounded out to replace Stefanovic.
Lee said: “We’d had that chat, about whether I’d be interested in looking at that.
“But the fact of getting up that early … it’s the same reason that Hamish [Blake] and I wouldn’t do breakfast radio. The idea of getting up that early didn’t float my boat.”
“But that stuff happens all the time with all shows across all networks. People sound you out to see if you might be interested.”
Of course, the casting does make sense when you consider Lee has a long-standing relationship with Nine and is currently hosting Nine’s The Hundred. Perhaps they could have even roped Hamish Blake on board who is currently hosting Nine’s LEGO MASTERS.
Still, it wasn’t meant to be and now Stefanovic is back and thriving.