No more waking up with Today! Tony Jones and Sonia Kruger bid farewell to show

Two of the Today show’s favourite stars bid farewell to the popular breakfast show on Friday morning, as sports presenter Tony Jones and Today Extra’s Sonia Kruger finished up work on the program for good.

The presenters announced they would be leaving the show – and in Sonia’s case, the Nine Network altogether – just this week, with Sonia revealing the sad news live on-air yesterday, while Tony broke the news on Monday in an interview with the Herald Sun.

Sonia, who has also worked on major Nine shows including Big Brother and The Voice, broke the news during Thursday morning’s show as she told viewers: “After eight fabulous years I’m leaving the show and the Nine Network. I have had an amazing time here. I’ve been very privileged to work on some top shelf programs and, of course, with you David.

“But it’s time for me to go and do something new … Tomorrow is going to be my last day on the show and as a thank you to you at home for having me in your living room every day, we are putting together something special to celebrate. There’ll be laughs, there better be tears. If there are no tears I will be very upset.”

While Jones told the Herald Sun: “It’s certainly been a wild ride over the past year, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time working on the Today show. However, I came to the conclusion several months ago that juggling those commitments, together with Nine News, Sunday Footy Show and 3AW, was not sustainable. Something had to give.”

After eight fabulous years Sonia is leaving Today. 😫 🥺 #9Today pic.twitter.com/W1V13a0AZk

— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) November 14, 2019

Sonia was given a sweet send-off on Friday as presenters Deb Knight, Tom Steinfort and Brooke Boney invited her and co-star David Campbell onto the couch to discuss her departure, as Sonia admitted she’s had “such a great time” on the program. While Deb Knight – who is also set to be replaced in the new year – said: “You’ve been a great colleague and great friend and we can’t wait to see what you do next.”

Fans of the show were sad to see Sonia go on Friday, with many wishing the star well on her final day with the network. One viewer wrote: “Sonia and David have the best chemistry, you can see they genuinely like each other. They are a pleasure to watch. It is a sad day, but we wish her well. Don’t know how you will fill her special Tina Sparkle shoes.” Another said: “Sonia and David are the dream team!”

Jones also left the show on Friday and the sports presenter even brought his beloved dog Archie along for his final broadcast, joking with Steinfort that the pooch had been given a two year contract extension while he “got the arse”. He went on to say: “It’s been a long year, let me tell you. I feel like I’ve gone 15 rounds, I’m on the ropes, and despite what they say, I’m in your corner.”

Their departures come after it was announced that the whole show would be overhauled once again in 2020, with co-hosts Georgie Gardner and Deborah Knight given the boot to make way for ex-anchor Karl Stefanovic to make a comeback to the show, which he helmed for more than a decade before being axed at the end of last year. Karl will lead the show alongside Allison Langdon with Nine confirming that the full cast of the show will be confirmed in due course.

Following the news, Georgie decided left the show with immediate effect over the weekend and she was awkwardly farewelled from the show on Monday morning as Deb and Tom Steinfort paid tribute to her, commending her efforts in trying to improve the show’s ratings, claiming she “gave it a red hot go”.

“We wanted to acknowledge our colleague and friend, Georgie Gardner,” Knight – who is staying on in her role until next year – began. “You might have read over the weekend that Georgie has left the show. After a really challenging year, we want to wish Georgie all the very best.”

Steinfort then chimed in adding: “She has been a committed and passionate member of the team here. I think particularly when she’s been sharing the stories of everyday Australians who are doing it tough. These are issues that she wanted to focus on.

“She has always been a woman of strength here, a woman of class – and also who could forget that very wicked sense of humour that would just pop up from time to time as well?”

While a shock for the rest of Australia, Knight claimed that Georgie is making the most of her time away from the camera, as she prepares to take the next step in her career. She added: “Georgie is enjoying the time with her family, friends, taking Wilbur the dog [for a walk] and we look forward to seeing you on our screens again soon.”