Karl Stefanovic has all but confirmed speculation he is set to exit the Today show in an awkward interview with One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce for his Karl Stefanovic Show podcast.
Joyce, 59, was being interviewed by Stefanovic in a pub in Albury ahead of the Farrar by-election when he turned the tables on his host.
After Stefanovic asked Joyce whether he was ready to ‘grow a pair’ and return to the lower house, the politician fired back with: ‘Are you going to grow a set and tell us you’re leaving Channel Nine?’
‘Hey, I’m not an elected official… I’m a paid-up employee, and I love it,’ Stefanovic replied, struggling to contain his laughter.
Still, Joyce would not let the matter drop. He poked Stefanovic in the chest playfully and said, ‘I’ve been around this game a lot longer than he thinks. And I’m gonna answer your question, and you’re going to answer mine.’
After telling the crowd he would return to the lower house if his party wanted him to stand, Joyce dropped politics for a moment to quiz Stefanovic about his future in showbiz.
Karl Stefanovic has all but confirmed speculation he is set to exit the Today show in an awkward interview with One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce for his Karl Stefanovic Show podcast
‘Back to you, Cyclone,’ Joyce cheekily said, as Stefanovic grinned broadly.
‘What’s happening with Channel Nine?’ he continued.
‘I’m gainfully employed there, and I’m very happy,’ he insisted.
‘Oh, you bull**** artist. He’s oozing oil,’ Joyce said as the Nine star laughed along, looking unsettled.
‘He’s shutting me down, he’s shutting me down… this conversation is going to cost him millions,’ Joyce added, clearly enjoying himself.
‘What an ar**hole you are,’ Stefanovic shot back, appearing to concede Joyce might know more than he was letting on.
‘The quicker you go back to Tamworth or wherever the hell you’re from, the better,’ Stefanovic joked. ‘I don’t like your kind here.’
It comes after insiders revealed last month that a fresh new line-up for Today is underway.
Joyce, 59, was being interviewed by Stefanovic in a pub in Albury ahead of the Farrar by-election when he turned the tables on his host. After Stefanovic asked Joyce whether he was ready to ‘grow a pair’ and return to the lower house, the politician shot back with a joke: ‘Are you going to grow a set and tell us you’re going to leave Channel Nine?’
Rumours have run rife that Stefanovic will soon abandon his $3 million per year contract at Channel Nine and head for radio.
A major reason he could flee his high-profile television role is simple, an insider has revealed – the hours.
Media commentator Andrew Mercado told Yahoo Lifestyle last month that the 5.30am starts, which require Karl to be up as early as 3.30am, have begun to grate.
‘It could be that Karl is at that point now where he wants to have a regular nine-to-five job,’ Mercado told the publication.
According to The Australian’s Media Diary column, the Today show host has ‘signed a memorandum of understanding’ with radio giant ARN, paving the way for a potential switch once his current Nine contract expires in December.
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