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‘Friday will be my last day’: Another star confirms departure from Today show

Jan 09, 2019

The show's brand new line-up will debut on Monday 14 January. Source: Getty and Instagram/deborah_knight.

It has been a tumultuous few weeks for the stars of the Today show as a number of the Channel Nine breakfast program’s biggest names have moved on to pastures new.

Now another star has followed in the footsteps of the likes of Karl Stefanovic, Peter Stefanovic and his wife Sylvia Jeffreys, as it has been revealed that sports reporter Tim Gilbert’s time on the show has also come to an end.

Gilbert confirmed the news on Twitter on Tuesday night, and told fans that Friday will be his last day waking up with Today after a five year stint on the show.

“What a beautiful bunch you all are just confirming Friday will be my last day on @thetodayshow,” he said. “We are going to have a blast for the rest of the week like we have for the last five years. It will be nice to unplug the alarm for a while.”

What a beautiful bunch you all are just confirming Friday will be my last day on @thetodayahow we are going to have a blast for the rest of the week like we have for the last five years it will be nice to unplug the alarm for a while ❤️ https://t.co/HUSkTgPoAX

— Tim Gilbert (@TimgGilbert) January 8, 2019

Gilbert, who is set to be replaced by Melbourne journalist Tony Jones, is just the latest in a long line of changes made to the show’s team, which began when Karl Stefanovic confirmed he would be leaving Today show after 14 years in December, just hours after brother Peter stepped away from the TV network.

The 44-year-old TV star admitted it had been a “tough time” but insisted he plans to continue working with Nine in the future.

“For the last 14 years I’ve co-hosted the best show on television. I can’t thank Nine enough for the opportunity. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be good enough to host this grand show for so long,” he said in a statement. “Thanks to our viewers mostly, you are what matters most. It’s been a tough time. Thanks for hanging in there. I look forward to seeing you in another capacity at this great Network soon.”

Last week, after much speculation, Karl Stefanovic’s replacement for Today was finally announced, with news presenter Deborah Knight stepping into his shoes to co-host the show alongside Georgie Gardner.

“Respected journalists Georgie Gardner and Deborah Knight will host a new look Today with Tom Steinfort joining the line-up as newsreader, it was announced this morning,” a statement released at the time read.

“Joining the hosts will be legendary Melbourne sports presenter Tony Jones, Nine Finance Editor Ross Greenwood and former ABC journalist and Triple J newsreader Brooke Boney as entertainment reporter.”

Following the news that controversial presenter Karl would not be returning to the show in 2019, it was then revealed that entertainment reporter Richard Wilkins would be replaced by Triple J newsreader Brooke Boney.

However Wilkins has not departed entirely as Nine’s Director of News and Current Affairs Darren Wick confirmed that Wilkins will remain the entertainment editor at Nine, but will have a greater role on the second-tier Today Extra show.

The new-look show will make its debut next Monday, January 14. Meanwhile, Political Editor Chris Uhlmann, Richard Wilkins, Lara Vella, Christine Ahern and Jessica Milward will also be part of the team. While David Campbell, Allison Langdon, Jayne Azzopardi and Clint Stanaway will host Weekend Today.