Lisa Wilkinson has re-signed with Channel 9 as a co-host of Today.

Lisa Wilkinson has re-signed with Channel 9 as a co-host of Today.

She has been in the breakfast hosting chair since May 2007 alongside Karl Stefanovic, whose contract has also been finalised. Their partnership has proved successful for the network, having narrowed the gap between Today and its rival Sunrise. 

The Show is set to kick off its 2016 season with an Australia Day special in Parramatta Park, Sydney. Lisa and Karl will once again be joined by the Today Team, entertainment guru Richard Wilkins, news presenter Sylvia Jeffreys, finance editor Ross Greenwood, sports presenter Tim Gilbert,  and weatherman Stevie Jacobs.

“We finished the year strongly, so I’m really looking forward to getting back together with the team and bringing the best morning television to our audiences around Australia,” said Karl, in a press-release issued by Channel 9.

Lisa Wilkinson commenced her role with Channel 9 after spending two years as a co-host of Weekend Sunrise on Channel 7.

She began her career at Dolly magazine and became the youngest ever editor of the title  at age 21. Within four years she had tripled the circulation, and she was then head-hunted by the late Kerry Packer to edit the iconic CLEO magazine. Under her guidance it became the number one selling women’s lifestyle magazine per capita in the world.

She made her foray into television as a regular guest and panelist on Channel 10’s panel show Beauty and the Beast in the late 1990s and during the Sydney Olympics she co-hosted a breakfast show on Channel 7. After two years hosting Weekend Sunrise she was announced as Jessica Rowe’s replacement on Today.

Since then Wilkinson has become an increasingly popular and powerful personality. In 2014 her Andrew Olle lecture on sexism and women in the media earned universal praise.  Last year her scathing review of 50 Shades of Grey made headlines around the world and she has emerged as one of Australia’s most prominent advocates for ending violence against women.

Lisa Wilkinson said: “I’ve loved my sleep-ins over the last few weeks and having some great times with Pete and the kids, but I’m looking forward to getting back together with my Today Show family – Karl, the team and all our fabulous viewers. The summer holidays have been all about relaxing so, like the boys, I’ll probably have to shave my beard off too.”