Abo's Health Leave
Today Show's Sarah Abo begins early maternity leave on doctor's health advice.
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Key Points
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Nine's handling of Karl Stefanovic's exit includes the cancellation of his multimillion-dollar contract following the Tommy Robinson interview, with no permanent replacement announced yet and internal talents Tom Steinfort and Charles Croucher rotating in the interim.
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Sarah Abo posted on Instagram that she and the baby are well and described a 'curveball' last week with high blood pressure, adding that she is in the safe hands of doctors, nurses and midwives.
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Abo will not return for an on-air farewell because doctors have told her to rest, with Today's hosts confirming the update on air.
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Seven has secured the rights to I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! for the coming year, highlighting intensified competition for morning shows, while no hosting details have been announced publicly.
Today show host Sarah Abo has left the program early for maternity leave after doctors ordered her to rest following a high blood pressure scare, Head Topics reported. She had been in and out of hospital throughout the previous week and will not return for an on-air farewell.
Abo confirmed the news on Instagram, saying she and the baby are well but describing the past week as a 'curveball.' She wrote that she is in 'the safe hands of doctors, nurses and midwives,' according to Daily Mail.
High Blood Pressure Forces Abo Off Air Without Farewell
Co-hosts Sylvia Jeffreys and Charles Croucher broke the news on air. They told viewers that Abo's doctors instructed her to rest, meaning she could not come back for a goodbye segment, Newsy Today reported. It was an abrupt ending to her time on the show before her baby arrives.
Abo's Instagram post thanked fans and colleagues for their support. She said she had faced repeated hospital visits in the week before her departure. Doctors advised her that returning to the studio was simply not an option, according to The Nightly.
Today Show Already Reeling From Karl Stefanovic's Exit
Abo's departure lands at a difficult time for the Today show. Karl Stefanovic left earlier this year after Nine cancelled his multimillion-dollar contract following his controversial interview with Tommy Robinson. No permanent replacement has been named, according to New Idea.
In the interim, Nine is rotating internal talent to fill the gap. Tom Steinfort and Charles Croucher have been stepping in as stand-ins. The back-to-back exits of two high-profile hosts have left the show scrambling to maintain stability on screen, New Idea reported.
Stand-Ins Step Up While Abo Focuses on Recovery
With no permanent host locked in, the Today show will continue using rotating stand-ins to cover Abo's seat. Sylvia Jeffreys remains a steady presence on the desk. Nine has not publicly announced a timeline for naming a permanent co-host, according to The Nightly.
Abo's priority is now her health and her baby. She asked fans for privacy while she rests. The network has said nothing publicly about when or whether she will return to Today after her maternity leave ends, Daily Mail reported.
Rival Network Seven Turns Up Heat on Morning TV
The shake-up at Today comes as competition in Australian morning television heats up. Seven has secured the rights to I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! for the coming year. No hosting details have been announced yet, but the move signals Seven's intent to strengthen its programming lineup.
Morning shows live and die by their hosts. Losing two major names in quick succession puts Nine at a disadvantage. Analysts say the network needs to move fast on a permanent appointment before viewer numbers slide further, according to Head Topics.
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