Today Show Set for Major Hosting Shake-Up Amid Departures

The Australian breakfast television program, Today, is preparing for a significant hosting change following the announced departures of Sarah Abo and Karl Stefanovic.

Sylvia Jeffreys and Tom Steinfort are the leading candidates to become the new co-hosts, according to reports from news.com.au. Steinfort is expected to fill the role previously held by Stefanovic, while Jeffreys is slated to take over when Abo concludes her tenure at the end of the year.

Abo confirmed her departure on Wednesday, stating that motherhood has marked a new chapter in her life. She expressed gratitude to the viewers for allowing her to be a part of their morning routines.

"Words can't express how grateful I am to our viewers for letting me into your homes to be part of your morning routine. Without you, there is no Today show," Abo said in a press release. She also thanked the Today team, describing them as family.

Fiona Dear, Nine's Executive Director of News and Current Affairs, acknowledged Abo's contributions to the program, highlighting her warmth, energy, and journalistic skills. "It takes enormous skill to front three-and-a-half hours of live television every day, and Sarah did it with sharp journalistic instincts," Dear stated.

Abo's departure follows the earlier exit of her co-host Karl Stefanovic in June. Stefanovic resigned from the network after an interview with Tommy Robinson, which he briefly posted to his podcast before deleting it amid backlash. Channel Nine indicated that Stefanovic could not continue with the network while simultaneously hosting his podcast.