The TV presenter tipped to replace Georgie Gardner’s weekend post on 9News has been revealed.
A Current Affair co-host Deborah Knight has been tipped to fill the newly vacant role as 9News weekend news anchor, following Georgie Gardner’s emotional farewell to the network after nearly 25 years.
Knight has more than 20 years of experience in broadcast journalism and news presenting, having begun her career at a regional New South Wales radio station 2WG in Wagga Wagga.
Since joining Nine in 2011, she has worked as a newsreader for Weekend Today and Today, anchored Nine News Sydney’s morning and afternoon bulletins, and currently hosts the Saturday edition of A Current Affair.
The 53-year-old is being tipped as Gardner’s successor, with an official announcement reportedly expected on Monday night, The Daily Mail reports.
The veteran TV presenter is among several high-profile journalists whose names have been floated for the role, including 60 Minutes reporter Amelia Adams and Nine reporter Mark Burrows.
Gardner and Knight have shared the screen before, making history in 2019 as the first all-female co-hosting duo on the Today Show.
The stint ended in November that year as part of the network’s efforts to revamp the program, which included the return of Karl Stefanovic.
Gardner announced her exit from the Nine network after 20 years in March this year, with her final news bulletin a month later on April 17. (Picture: Instagram)(Picture: Instagram)
Gardner announced her exit from the Nine network in March after almost 24 years with the broadcaster. She presented her final bulletin a month later on April 17.
In a social media post announcing her resignation, Gardner said she was uncertain about what the future looked like, but was “excited” nonetheless.
“Some exciting news… after 34 yrs of broadcast journalism, I’ve decided to call it a day,” she wrote.
“Just shy of 24 yrs at Nine, my resignation has been accepted – which conjures up a fair bit of trepidation & exhilaration in equal measure.”
“Time now to embark on a new chapter and not yet sure what that looks like, but I’m open to new opportunities, and I’m excited,” she continued.
“So much still to learn and discover in the world, and at age 55, so much still to contribute.”
Gardner and Knight have shared the screen before, making history in 2019 as the first all-female co-hosting duo on the Today Show. Picture: News Corp Australia/ Jerad Williams
Her shock resignation came amid Nine Network’s broader restructure, which included job cuts and significant cost-saving measures.
Gardner’s contract was due to expire at the end of the year, prompting reports she chose to “leave on her own terms”.
According to the Daily Mail’s Inside Mail column, Nine executives reportedly met the news of her retirement with a “sigh of relief”.
“Nine accepted her resignation with something approaching a sigh of relief. Not only was a difficult conversation avoided, but the company will now save a lot of money, and earlier than expected,” the Daily Mail’s Inside Mail reports.
“With the way the television business is now, no job is safe, and some at 1 Denison Street say they never expected her to be with the network next year.
“Ultimately, she went out on her own terms – not many people can say that.”