Karl Stefanovic speaks for the first time about his split from wife Cassandra Thorburn.

TODAY Show host Karl Stefanovic has spoken for the first time about his split with wife Cassandra Thorburn after 21 years together.

Talking to the Herald Sun on Friday, Stefanovic said that although his marriage has ended, his focus remains on his children and ensuring this transition for them is as smooth and as simple as possible.

“For me personally I would definitely have failures in a husband sense and hope that I can rectify my failures as a Dad,” Karl told the paper.

“I hope I can try and rebuild whatever has happened in the past and try and make the most of what I can do with them in the future.”

Of his former wife, Stefanovic said she is “an amazing woman”.

“For me the only issue was the burden of paparazzi around my family in the initial months. That is regrettable, that is hard to explain to a kid and I think it is awful for kids.”

In November, Thorburn confirmed the split in an interview with Mums Central, saying the breakup had left her in a state of mourning.

“I’m grieving the loss of my relationship. The loss of my best friend and life partner,” she said.

“I don’t want to be scared to go out, but there are days when I dread going to the supermarket.

“I’ve had the most incredible messages from people reaching out and people I don’t even know have offered their support," she said.

Stefanovic's co-host Lisa Wilkinson has also been vocal about her support of the couple and her resentment at the rumours that surrounded the split.

“There’s a lot of rubbish out there at the moment, a lot of lies,” Wilkinson told Mia Freedman on her No Filter podcast.

“It’s been really interesting, looking at weekly women’s magazines and seeing the way they operate in 2016, and seeing some of the online sites, and the complete lies they are happy to write.

“I am disgusted with some sections of the media at the moment.”

LISTEN to Lisa chatting with Mia Freedman below. (Post continues...)

Thorburn and Stefanovic have three children together, Jackson, 16, Ava, 11 and River, 10.