He was famously dumped from the Today show at the end of last year in a major shake-up for the Channel 9 program, before enjoying an extended break out of the spotlight with his new wife Jasmine Yarbrough – but Karl Stefanovic will be back, his friend and fellow TV star Scott Cam has insisted.
The Block host, 56, opened up in an exclusive interview with Starts at 60 about Stefanovic’s time off screen, revealing he’s doing well and will “100 per cent” be making a return to primetime TV.
“I haven’t seen Karl for a while but he’s going good, he’s alright,” Cam said, when asked how Stefanovic is doing. “Don’t worry about Karl, he’s a goer and he’s a very great presenter and broadcaster and he’ll certainly pop up on something.
“He’s probably the best broadcaster in the country when it comes to current affairs and journalism and things like that, he’s terrific. He’ll surface again on our primetime televisions, 100 per cent.”
The pair have known each other for years, thanks to them both heading up major Aussie TV shows, but Cam truly forged his friendship with Stefanovic, 44, on his 40th birthday – when he worked with Ben Fordham to turn his Gold Logie Award into an elaborate bottle opener.
Having done it to his own, Cam said it’s the perfect way to ensure it’s used and appreciated by all – and Stefanovic loved the surprise.
“It means we use it all the time, my boys use it!” Cam explained. “I reckon most people are too cool for school when they say they’ll put the old Logie in the back cupboard, or use it as a doorstop – that’s nonsense. If you win a Gold Logie you put it on a shelf in your dining room don’t you? That’s exactly where mine is, pride of place!”
Asked about making Stefanovic’s for him, he added: “Ben Fordham sorted all that out, he came over the my workshop and we did it together… Well actually Ben Fordham did nothing, I did it all! He just watched.”
Cam, a carpenter, builder and popular TV star, is now perhaps best know for his role on The Block, but has also spent decades working tirelessly in the building industry.
Read more: Scott Cam says Aussies were tougher in ’20s as he recalls horror work injuries
Indeed, it’s been a busy time for him and he also recently starred in a segment for SBS’ Who Do You Think You Are? where he travelled back to Italy to find out more about his ancestors and family history.
Along the way, he discovered a few shocks that both he and his mum knew nothing about. He explained: “There was some interesting history there like gypsy travellers and things like that, that’s where it all kicked off. It was a bit of a rogue situation, there were a few rogues in the family and that carried on over the years.”
Watch Scott Cam on Who Do You Think You Are? on SBS On Demand.