Speculation continues to mount over who will replace Tracy Grimshaw as host of A Current Affair, following the surprise announcement that she will be stepping down as presenter.

Grimshaw, 62, shocked fans with the announcement at the end of A Current Affair’s Monday, September 6 show, explaining that she made the choice to step down and wasn’t “being shoved out the door by the boys club” because she was “too old”.

“Normally right about now we’d be telling you what to expect tomorrow night but lately I’ve personally been thinking longer term, and I have some news that I wanted you to hear from me before you hear it from anyone else,” she told viewers.

“I’ve decided to finish up with A Current Affair this year.

“It’s been a big decision and before the gossip websites start telling you rubbish, I want you to know it’s been my decision alone and I’m not being shoved out the door by the boys club because I’m too old.

“I’m not too old, I’m just a bit tired. And for the record both the boys and the girls have asked me to stay.

“But I’ve basically been a shift worker for 26 years, driving to work before dawn for 9 years on the Today Show, and the past 17 years driving home after dark here on A Current Affair and it’s time for less of that daily obligation.

“It’s been my privilege to host this show.”

As the dust begins to settle on the surprise move, attention turns to who will take her place behind the desk of the nightly program and assume hosting duties. As reported by The Australian, Nine executives have extended their search beyond the walls of the network’s offices and are considering The Project host Carrie Bickmore.

Other frontrunners for the coveted role include Today show host Karl Stefanovic, and his co-host Allison Langdon. Sylvia Jeffreys and Deb Knight, who will be familiar to A Current Affair audience as regular stand-in host and Saturday ACA host respectively, are also rumored to fill the veteran journalist’s shoes.

Grimshaw began her career as a reporter in 1981 with the Channel 9 Melbourne newsroom and in 1985 began presenting 9News daytime bulletins. In 1995, she joined the Midday Show as co-host alongside David Reyne.

Grimshaw then went on to co-host Today with Steve Liebmann in 1996.

Grimshaw interviewed a range of people during her nine-year term with Today, including world leaders, movie stars to everyday Australians. She hosted the live coverage of the Stuart Diver’s rescue from the Thredbo disaster and took on hosting duties again for the coverage of Princess Diana’s death.

On January 30, 2006 she began presenting for A Current Affair, where she covered the rescue of the two miners in Beaconsfield, Brant Webb and Todd Russell.

She was awarded the Walkley Award for Broadcast and Online interviewing in 2009.