Danika Mason has confirmed she will leave Channel Nine’s Today show after returning from maternity leave.
The sports presenter, who is expecting her first child with NRL star Liam Knight, became emotional as she announced her decision on Friday morning, following reports that she was preparing to step away from the breakfast program.
“I am going on maternity leave, as we are probably all aware, but I have had to make the decision about what I am going to do when I come back next year,” she told co-hosts Tom Steinfort, Sylvia Jeffreys and Jayne Azzopardi.
“Obviously, juggling all my NRL commitments, the Today show and a new baby as well, something had to give. So I have made the pretty tough decision that, when I return next year, I won’t be coming back to the show.”
Mason said she had cherished her two years on the program and praised its viewers and behind-the-scenes staff.
“I have absolutely loved my time with everyone. We have had the best audience and the best team. It has been such a fun two years, and everyone here in the morning, all our floor crew, you guys are just amazing. I’ve had the best time,” she said.
Steinfort, Jeffreys and Azzopardi responded with messages of support, telling Mason she would be greatly missed by the Today team.
Danika Mason is officially leaving the Today show. The sports reporter, who is expecting her first child with NRL star Liam Knight, tearfully made the announcement on the Channel Nine breakfast show on Friday morning following reports of her impending departure
Mason joked that she would “still be waking up early” after her baby arrives, although she would no longer be getting up for work.
“You never know what can happen in the future, so for now we’re so excited about this next chapter, but something had to give,” she added.
The Today show’s Instagram account later paid tribute to the presenter, writing: “Today we say farewell to our beloved Danika Mason as she steps away from the show to start an exciting new chapter.”
Mason’s departure follows her widely discussed Italian Alps segment in February, when she appeared to slur her words during a live cross.
During the unusual broadcast, Mason struggled to deliver a sports report about the Winter Olympics, moved into tangents about coffee prices in the United States and made an unexpected reference to iguanas. The performance left viewers and fellow presenters baffled.
At one stage, she even made snow angels as the live segment descended into confusion.
Mason later acknowledged that she had consumed alcohol before going to air and apologised to viewers, admitting she had misjudged the situation.
The 35-year-old has been a regular presence on the Channel Nine breakfast program since last year.
Danika was visibly emotional as she shared the news with her Today co-stars Tom Steinfort, Sylvia Jeffreys and Jayne Azzopardi
The Today show’s Instagram account later paid tribute to Danika Mason, writing: “Today we say farewell to our beloved Danika Mason as she steps away from the show to start an exciting new chapter”
Her exit follows the presenter’s involvement in a widely reported television controversy in February, when she appeared to slur her words during a live broadcast from the snow-covered Italian Alps
On Thursday, Danika shared a photo showing off her growing baby bump alongside new presenter Sylvia Jeffreys, captioning the post “large and in charge”
On Thursday, Mason posted a photo with Sylvia Jeffreys showing her growing baby bump. She captioned the image: “large and in charge.”
Danika’s decision to leave the Today show comes after a series of shock departures from the program.
Last month, the program’s longtime weatherman Tim Davies shared an emotional farewell with viewers as he bid goodbye after seven years on the show.
The beloved presenter, 42, signed off surrounded by his colleagues, with producers surprising him with a series of special visits throughout his final broadcast.
Among them was an appearance by Davies’ original producer Gerry Campbell, as well as Qantas staff and members of the Australian Girls Choir.
Davies became visibly emotional as he thanked his colleagues for their support over the past seven years.
Meanwhile, former co-host Sarah Abo also left the show in September after reportedly expressing her disappointment to senior Nine executives over the handling of Stefanovic’s termination before beginning her maternity leave in July.
Stefanovic’s departure in June followed his controversial interview with far-right figure Tommy Robinson for his podcast, The Karl Stefanovic Show.
Last month, the program’s longtime weatherman Tim Davies shared an emotional farewell with viewers as he bid goodbye after seven years on the show
Meanwhile, former co-host Sarah Abo also left the show in September after reportedly expressing her disappointment to senior Nine executives over the handling of Stefanovic’s termination before beginning her maternity leave in July
In her farewell statement, Abo described motherhood as the beginning of a ‘new chapter’ and thanked viewers for welcoming her into their homes
The interview was uploaded to YouTube before being deleted hours later following a backlash.
Nine subsequently told Daily Mail that Stefanovic could not continue working at the network while also hosting his podcast.
He was abruptly removed from Today despite previously being expected to remain with the breakfast program until the end of the year.
According to News Corp, Abo’s support for her co-host further strained her relationship with Nine, which had reportedly already questioned whether the presenting partnership was working.
Nine later confirmed Abo’s departure, despite reportedly offering her another position.
In her farewell statement, Abo described motherhood as the beginning of a ‘new chapter’ and thanked viewers for welcoming her into their homes.
‘Without you, there is no Today show,’ she said.
She also paid tribute to her colleagues, saying the demanding early starts were easier when the team felt like family.
‘I’ll miss you all dearly.’
Sylvia Jeffreys and Tom Steinfort were confirmed as the replacement Today hosting team last month.
