Today, host Karl Stefanovic is off the air as he attends a lavish wedding in Paris, replaced by Charles Croucher and James Bracey.
But the breakfast show’s star’s absence is doing wonders for ratings, with numbers rising rather than falling while he’s gone.
The show has achieved its highest ratings in four weeks with Karl gone, rising to 191,760 viewers on Monday.
However, there is still competition from Sunrise, with more focus on the series thanks to new presenter Matt Shirvington, who recently replaced David ‘Kochie’ Koch.
Sunrise crushed Today with a 66,000 viewer lead over the five capitals on the debut episode of Shirvington on June 12.
Today, host Karl Stefanovic (pictured) is off the air as he attends a lavish wedding in Paris, replaced by Charles Croucher and James Bracey. But the breakfast show’s star’s absence does wonders for ratings, with numbers rising rather than falling while he’s gone
By June 19, that lead had increased by another 10,000, bringing 245,192 viewers to Sunrise.
It comes after Karl skipped town for the lavish sorority wedding of millionaire chicken heiress Tamie Ingham and chef Guillaume Brahimi in Paris.
Stefanovic, a longtime friend of Brahimi after being introduced by a mutual acquaintance James Packer, served as emcee at the posh nuptials spanning two raucous days culminating in a reception at the famed Maxim’s bistro.
The 48-year-old, father of four, was photographed doing it with his wife Jasmine in the French capital, attending a first welcome party at cult restaurant Girafe Paris on Tuesday night.
He was spotted the next day arriving for the ceremony at the sprawling Museum Mondee, where Brahimi officially tied the knot with Tamie – a member of the Ingham chicken family who sold the poultry farm for $800 million in 2013.
However, there is still competition from Sunrise, with more focus on the series thanks to new host Matt Shirvington (pictured), who recently replaced David ‘Kochie’ Koch
Karl and Jasmine, who are staying at the $13,000-a-night Hotel Costes during their time in Paris, will spend a total of two weeks abroad with Stefanovic to resume hosting on June 26.
After a week enjoying the sights in Paris, the Channel Nine breakfast show host and his wife have moved into their billionaire partner’s $250 million giga yacht, currently docked on the Italian holiday island of Sardinia.
It’s unfortunate timing that was “pure coincidence,” according to Today boss Steve Burling who defended Stefanovic’s vacation.
‘[Karl] booked a few months ago in this two weeks leave. That his vacation coincides with Shirvo’s first day is purely coincidental. Nothing more,” he said.
“Karl hasn’t had any time off since he started at the Australian Open in January.”
Shirvington’s impressive start marks a seamless beginning for the former sprinter who took over after Koch stepped down after more than two decades.
Karl skipped town for the lavish society wedding of millionaire chicken heiress Tamie Ingham and chef Guillaume Brahimi in Paris alongside his wife, Jasmine (left)
After a week enjoying the sights in Paris, the Channel Nine breakfast show host and his wife have moved into their billionaire partner’s $250 million giga yacht, currently docked on the Italian holiday island of Sardinia. Photographed on vacation
Veteran media analyst Steve Allen, of the independent media agency Pearman Media, recently described Shirvington as a fitting successor to Koch, largely due to the fact that both men are “really relatable” and don’t seem predisposed to personal life dramas like Stefanovic.
“Because let’s face it…Karl doesn’t always seem to be authentic,” Allen told Daily Mail Australia.
“It seems like he’s always busy with something naughty he’s done.
“Hardly a year goes by that Karl isn’t involved in some kind of cunning.
And while he may be trying to appear relatable, at the end of the day his personal life suggests otherwise… he’s always present at social events with a silver spoon, attending celebrity weddings and seeking out a group A-list friends.
“[Producers now]may not want us to judge him for that, but the reality is that the audience does and that’s a letdown.”
By comparison, Shirvington is “really down to earth,” Allen said.
Matt Shirvington just doesn’t seem like the kind of person interested in that world. He may not be very urban, but he is certainly recognisable.’
Sunrise crushed Today with a 66,000 viewer lead over the five capitals on Shirvington’s debut episode on June 12