
Sylvia Jeffreys is spilling more insider gossip about the Today Show revamp that saw her, her husband and her brother-in-law all shown the door.
It has been six months since the Today Show newsreader departed the breakfast show, just days after Karl Stefanovic’s sacking while he was on his honeymoon.
The rest of the changes to the show were a shock to everyone – particularly those involved.
Here’s Sylvia tearing up while talking about Lisa Wilkinson on the Today Show in 2017. Post continues after video.
Richard Wilkins was redeployed to Today Extra, Karl’s brother Peter Stefanovic left the network altogether, sports reporter Tim Gilbert was moved on, and – then there was Sylvia.
“We didn’t see it coming, not to that extent,” she told the Kyle and Jackie O show this morning. “We were blindsided.”
“Something had to give, there’s no doubt about that … and it did, eventually. I think externally, the pressure was massive.”
The show had been in turmoil for months off the back of plummeting ratings, but Sylvia hinted it was actually social media trolls that were Karl’s downfall.
“The people who troll on social media do not reflect the greater population, and quite often when the big changes are made, then the silent majority comes out and starts having their say.
“I don’t know what that decision (to fire Karl) was based on exactly,” she said.
On what the upheaval was like for her and husband Peter, Sylvia was honest: “It was really weird.”
Top Comments
Yes I did think the decision to axe her was a strange one! The stefanovics I can understand, esp given the taxi chat (and other issues for Karl) but I never understood the decision to axe Sylvia. I think she would have been great with the current team, I think Sylvia and Deb Knight would have been a great combo to head up the Today show, or Sylvia and that nice guy from Adelaide.
Her star rose on the back of Stefanovic nepotism, and once established, was maintained by Stefanovic connections. She wasn't independent enough not to be considered collateral.