New 'Today' Show Hosts Sylvia Jeffreys and Tom Steinfort Have Surprising Romantic Past
The Australian journalists, now set to co-host Channel Nine's breakfast program, previously dated over a decade ago.
Sylvia Jeffreys and Tom Steinfort, the newly announced permanent co-hosts for Channel Nine's "Today" show, share a professional history that includes a surprising romantic entanglement from more than a decade ago.
The pair, who will soon be co-anchoring the breakfast program five mornings a week, were romantically involved before they became prominent figures at Nine.
Their reunion on the "Today" couch follows a significant shake-up in the network's breakfast programming. Nine recently confirmed Jeffreys and Steinfort as the new permanent hosting team, a decision that comes after Sarah Abo's contract was not renewed while she was on maternity leave. Abo, who had been expected to return after giving birth in July, was reportedly informed by Nine executives that her contract would not be renewed after she declined alternative roles.
Jeffreys has been a fixture at "Today" for nearly 15 years, starting as a reporter and newsreader before moving to co-host "Weekend Today" and "Today Extra." Steinfort joined Nine in 2007 and has contributed to programs such as "A Current Affair," "60 Minutes," and "Nine News." He has also co-hosted "Weekend Today" and served as "Today's" newsreader.
The past relationship between Jeffreys and Steinfort, though brief, adds an unexpected layer to their professional collaboration. While accounts of the duration of their dating period vary, sources suggest it lasted between a couple of months and approximately eight months.
Both journalists have since moved on to establish separate personal lives. Jeffreys is married to journalist Peter Stefanovic, and they are expecting their third child. Steinfort is married to stylist Claudia Jukic, with whom he has two children.
Channel Nine has highlighted the combined four decades of journalistic and presenting experience between Jeffreys and Steinfort as a key asset for the new "Today" lineup. The pair have already had on-air chemistry tested, with Jeffreys returning to the "Today" program alongside Steinfort as the network evaluated various presenter combinations. The network's decision to select them was based on extensive research into breakfast television, viewer habits, and audience feedback.
Steinfort expressed his enthusiasm for his new co-host, describing Jeffreys as a "brilliant broadcaster, a great mate and a lot of fun." Jeffreys echoed this sentiment, stating that the "Today" show has "always felt like home."