Jayne Azzopardi Emerges as Frontrunner for Today Show Co-Host Position
Jayne Azzopardi is reportedly the leading candidate to step into Sarah Abo’s role on the Today show while Abo takes maternity leave later this year. Sources indicate that network executives have been evaluating several internal options, ultimately favoring the show’s long-serving newsreader for the prominent co-hosting spot alongside Karl Stefanovic.
Strategic Considerations Driving Decision
The selection process is said to be influenced by both public perception and financial considerations. While Sylvia Jeffreys is recognized as a talented network personality, there are perceived hesitations about pairing her with Stefanovic full-time due to their off-screen family ties. Jeffreys is married to Peter Stefanovic, Karl’s brother, and executives reportedly wish to avoid any blurring of the lines between the broader Stefanovic family brand and the flagship breakfast program.
Financial factors are also reportedly playing a significant role. Jeffreys is understood to command a considerably higher salary than Azzopardi. This makes the experienced newsreader a more economically viable choice for the network during this transitional period.
Azzopardi’s Extensive Experience
Jayne Azzopardi has been a fixture on the Today show as its newsreader since 2024. Her broadcasting background also includes experience as a co-host and news presenter for Weekend Today, as well as a reporter for Nine News Sydney.
Samantha Armytage’s Role Limited
Meanwhile, Samantha Armytage is unlikely to be offered a substantial on-air role beyond potential guest appearances. These cameos might be tied to promotional efforts for the upcoming return of The Golden Bachelor later this year. Reports suggest that network executives are hesitant to commit to a larger, ongoing role for Armytage due to the significant cost associated with the former Sunrise personality. This caution is further amplified by the moderate ratings achieved by several programs she has fronted since joining the network.
Sarah Abo’s Upcoming Maternity Leave
Sarah Abo, who is expecting her first child with husband Cyrus Moran, is anticipated to commence her maternity leave within the coming months. The 40-year-old television personality emotionally announced her pregnancy on air in March, sharing that the journey to conception had been challenging.
“I’m going to try and fail to maintain my composure. But yes, Cyrus and I are expecting a little baby,” Abo stated during the broadcast. “I know, it’s obviously very happy news and everything… It hasn’t been the easiest journey to get here, which a lot of people I know have gone through and will go through.
“It’s not as easy as you sometimes think that pregnancy will be. So, it has been a bit of a bumpy ride, but here we are. And yes, it’s getting harder to hide. As much as I’d like to bury my head in the sand and not address it, I think, yeah, we’re almost halfway now.”
Co-host Karl Stefanovic expressed his heartfelt support, becoming visibly emotional while congratulating Abo. “I work next to you every day, and I know you had some dramas, right? And last year you had so much crap in the newspapers, and it was around that time, and you didn’t tell anyone,” Stefanovic said. “You came to work, and your strength and courage during that was unbelievable. You fought that on your own with only a couple of people knowing.”
Following the on-air announcement, Abo shared her joy on social media, posting a photograph showcasing her baby bump. “Well, I can’t keep trying to hide under a rock..! Yes, there is a baby in there. It’s our happy news after a bit of a bumpy ride,” she wrote.
