Karl Stefanovic jokes he’s been a ‘very naughty boy’ in hilarious Today ad

Karl Stefanovic has poked fun at his 2018 sacking from the Today show in a hilarious new advert, just weeks after his highly-anticipated return to the popular morning program.

The father-to-be stars in a new advert for the breakfast TV show, which premiered on Monday, alongside his co-host Allison Langdon, who joined the recently revamped cast in January following the departure of Georgie Gardner and Deborah Knight.

Karl takes on the role of a criminal – more specifically, fictional cannibal Hannibal Lecter – in the advert, which takes its inspiration from 1991 hit movie The Silence of the Lambs, as Allison visits him in a makeshift prison cell.

“Good morning Karl,” she says. “So it’s you and me. You better get used to those early mornings again.”

Karl then mimics Sir Anthony Hopkins’ iconic character as he sniffs the air and declares: “I’ve missed the smell of morning coffee.” And the 45-year-old, who is currently expecting his fourth child, then goes one step further and has a go at recreating Dr Hannibal Lecter’s infamous slurping noise as he tells Allison: “Apparently I’ve been a very naughty boy.”

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Allison, holding up a Hannibal Lecter mask, continues: “This time Karl, things are going to be different … Everyone’s watching Karl, are you going to behave?” To which Karl replies: “Well, you’re just going to have to … trust me.”

The tongue-in-cheek advert then ends with Ally wheeling Karl out of his cell on a trolley wearing the instantly recognisable mask from Silence of the Lambs over his mouth.

Fans of the Today show praised the pair for the light-hearted advert, with one writing: “Loving Karl being back. Karl and Ally are perfect together and make a great team. Love the ad!”

Another commented: “Absolutely love it, missed Karl, I wake up with Today, mornings are are now funny light hearted and informative, happy days.”

Another commented: “Brilliant ad concept. Who ever thought of it high five. Big risk to pull off. But bloody brilliant.” While another wrote: “Missed Karl, glad he’s back him and Ally work well together. The serious stuff but some light hearted fun too which is what today show has missed for a while.”

However others weren’t so keen, it seems on the advert or the presenting combo, as one person wrote: “I can’t take it!!! It’s all very fake!!! I stopped watching, they’re trying so hard to entertain using make believe humour.”

Another said: “You can make all the spoof adds you want but I doubt even Hannibal Lecter would get into the new today show.” [sic]