Popular weatherman Steve Jacobs is returning to Today.
Two years after he quit the program to spend more time with his family, Jacobs has announced he will join Today’s new line up as its full-time weather man come Monday.
Jacobs replaces Natalia Cooper who is away on maternity leave and is just the latest in a series of shake ups on the Nine Network breakfast show, which started the year with a new line up after axing or sidelining its former stars.
It’s not known if Cooper will return to the role when she finishes her maternity leave.
Speaking to Nine Honey about his return, Jacobs said he’s excited to work with hosts Georgie Gardner and Deborah Knight, who are friends of his, and described Sylvia Jeffreys’ replacement, Tom Steinfort, as “a great mate of mine.”
“I have always felt like I’ve been a part of The Today Show’family, even when I left the weekday shows,” he said.
Jacobs previously worked on Today from 2005 to 2016, before he announced he was quitting the demanding role to focus on his marriage with wife Rose and his two daughters.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs340dxnQa6/
Jacobs switched to Weekend Today and he and his family moved to Vanuatu for a year, with Rose writing in her blog that their life in Sydney had become “toxic”. However, the island escape was not enough to save their marriage and the pair split at the end of 2017.
The former couple reportedly both live in Sydney again and share custody of their daughters. Multiple media reports around the time of their split hinted at a difficult relationship between the pair, with Rose telling news.com.au she decided to leave the relationship after an “argument that became volatile” made her believe she “needed to leave with the kids”.
Read more: Stevie Jacobs and wife split after seven years
Jacobs isn’t the only Today star to have his personal life dragged through the media in recent years and showed his support for Karl Stefanovic when he was axed from the program at the end of 2018.
Jacobs shared a photo of Stefanovic and his new wife Jasmine Yarbrough on Instagram, sending his best wishes to his “future to my brother in arms” on the day he was sacked.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Brjzz18nhUT/
“We started on Today in the same week 14 years ago and hit it off from day one,” he wrote. “We have had so many amazing adventures together and a confronting amount of man hugs. An amazing journo, extraordinary talent and a great man who has always supported me.”
Jacob’s return has already drummed up plenty of support online with fans flocking to his social media accounts to congratulate him.
“Oh thank goodness your coming back Stevie, it will give me great pleasure to see you back on air again,” one fan wrote.
Another added: “Thank god you’re back. Hopefully you can give the new team a much needed pick me up.”
Proudly Australian owned and operated