Matt ‘Shirvo’ Shirvington and Karl Stefanovic were seen putting their rivalry aside on Thursday when they stepped out together for a special cause.
Some of Sydney’s biggest names came together to raise money for the Sony Foundation’s Wharf4Ward fundraiser this week.
Friendly barbs were expected to fly as Shirvo, 46, represented Sunrise and Karl, 50, represented breakfast TV rival Today, but the pair were seen hugging instead, reported The Daily Telegraph.
When the TV stars, who work for competing networks Seven and Nine respectively, came together at the event, they shared an amicable embrace before Karl playfully poked fun at his counterpart.
The television veteran challenged the former Olympic sprinter to an impromptu race before quickly declaring he won after just a few steps, shouting: ‘In your face, Shirvo, in you face.’
He then became more thoughtful and said: ‘I’ve known Shirvo for centuries, it feels like, and we were just having a chat about the toll the [early morning] hours can take.
Matt ‘Shirvo’ Shirvington, 46, (pictured) and Karl Stefanovic, 50, were seen putting their rivalry aside on Thursday when they stepped out together for a special cause
‘But then you go, ‘Hang on a second, we are not in a situation where we can complain, we are not sick, digging ditches, we are just talking s*** for hours.’ So it puts a lot of things into perspective.’
Shirvo and Karl became friendly TV rivals in 2023 when the ex athlete took over the Sunrise co-anchor position from David Koch on June 12.
Sitting alongside Natalie Barr, the pair have proven to be a hard-hitting duo as they often steal the TV ratings lead out from under Today.
His catch-up with Karl comes after the Nine star was recently headhunted by NRL supremo Peter V’landys, who revealed he wants the Today anchor to have his own rugby league TV show on Channel Nine.
The pair were in Las Vegas for the kick off to the NRL season when Peter, 63, told News Corp: ‘It’s so evident in Vegas how popular Karl is with the fans.
‘They love him. I think he’s the perfect person to be an ambassador for rugby league on Channel Nine.
‘I’m going to talk to them about it. They’re a broadcast partner and they want to do a lot more to promote the game.
‘Karl knows his rugby league and the more footy programming we can get is only going to help grow the game.’
Friendly barbs were expected to fly as Shirvo represented Sunrise and Karl represented breakfast TV rival Today, but the pair were seen hugging instead. Pictured: Karl and his Today co-host Sarah Abo
The reports followed soon after Karl put rumours to rest about any likelihood of Samantha Armytage taking Sarah Abo’s hosting seat beside him on Today.
The TV veteran told Stellar magazine he would sooner retire from helming the flagship breakfast program than work alongside another new co-host.
‘I don’t see Sarah ever being replaced. And I genuinely have no interest in working with anyone else,’ he said earlier this month in the wide-ranging interview.
Channel Nine was reportedly plunged into back-to-back crisis meetings in December, following the decision to bring Sam, 48, onto the Today show as a summer fill-in co-host.
The network’s move sparked outrage among long-time staff, with insiders alleging the decision created tension behind the scenes and left many feeling snubbed.
Sam replaced longtime host Ally Langdon on Today in January 2023, and Karl has no interest in partaking in any further hosting re-brands.
The media personality has been with the breakfast show for 20 years and in that time has seen many co-hosts—including Tracy Grimshaw, Jessica Rowe, and Lisa Wilkinson—come and go.
‘In this game, there’s stuff you have control of and there’s stuff you don’t. At any point on any given day, I can be replaced. The show is bigger than I am,’ he said.
‘That’s not a slight on Sam. I’ve done 20 years, and I don’t know about going through all that with another person. I’m closer to the end than the start. That’s the reality.’
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