Allison Langdon broke down in uncontrollable tears on her last day of hosting the Today show on Friday, as Karl Stefanovic paid a very emotional tribute to his beloved co-host of almost three years.
The 43-year-old choked up as Karl sung her praises and said she was the perfect fit to step into her late father-in-law Mike Willesee’s shoes on A Current Affair.
‘It’s been an honour to be a colleague of someone who is friends with you,’ Karl said.
Allison Langdon broke down in uncontrollable tears on her last day of hosting the Today show on Friday as Karl Stefanovic paid a very emotional tribute to his beloved co-host of three years
The 43-year-old choked up as Karl sung her praises and told her she was the perfect fit to step into her late father-in-law Mike Willesee’s shoes on A Current Affair
‘The history (of ACA) is profound. You will be taking the chair of Mike Willesee. Like this, you will make this role your own. You will, your brilliant own. Let’s rise and make a toast to Ally.’
Karl then played a montage of Ally’s best moments on Today from her impeccable and sometimes emotional reporting, fun times on the desk and the pair’s playful banter.
Earlier in the morning, Allison was brutally pranked with Karl and her colleagues getting for her Mercedes Benz to be towed away from the Channel Nine car park.
Earlier in the morning, Allison was brutally pranked with Karl and her colleagues getting for her Mercedes Benz to be towed away from the Channel Nine car park
Weatherman Tim Davies was in on the gag, meeting a 24-hour towing company to remove her vehicle from her Today show car spot
Weatherman Tim Davies was in on the gag, meeting a 24-hour towing company to remove her vehicle from her Today show car spot.
He helped the towing company hook the car up to a truck as Ally watched on in horror.
‘What? You have got to be kidding me,’ Ally she screamed as she pointed to the screen.
‘We are having an Allison Langdon fire sale, including her car,’ Tim said.
Weatherman Tim Davies was in on the gag, meeting a 24-hour towing company in the Channel Nine car park to remove her vehicle from her Today show spot
‘How much does a German junk like this get? Never had a tub. Never looked after. A bit like Ally,’ he added.
‘We will shift it on out as she goes off to the bright lights of prime time and we will park it somewhere else. Wherever A Current Affair park.’
The roasting didn’t stop their either, with guests ribbing Ally about her alleged flatulence at home.
Radio star Dee Dee Dunleavy said: ‘I would like to say that the family whistleblower who says that Ally farts, there are clouds of rainbows and unicorns flowing through them, they would be very special farts,” she said to laughs from the panel.’
It comes after Karl has roasted his co-host for quitting the Today show to host A Current Affair earlier in the week.
Channel Nine confirmed on Sunday Langdon, 43, will be abandoning her co-hosting role at Today to replace outgoing ACA host Tracy Grimshaw, 62.
Stefanovic, 48, wasted no time discussing the big news on Monday’s broadcast, opening the show by singing along to The Beach Boys song Kokomo: ‘She’ll go out to sea, when she goes to ACA!’
‘Allison Langdon everyone, the new host of ‘A Current Affair’, of course. Congratulations, Ally,’ he declared, turning to Langdon.
‘I wasn’t sure what you would do this morning. I knew it would be something,’ Langdon beamed.
‘I spent the whole weekend working on that,’ Stefanovic joked, as Langdon mused: ‘I could tell. The production value had your name all over it!’
Karl, 48, (left) took a cheeky jab at co-host Ally, 43, (right) on Monday hours after Nine confirmed she was quitting the Today show to host A Current Affair
Stefanovic appeared surprised by her brutal response, firing back: ‘That’s all the ‘Today’ show’s production value is. That part of the reason you have moved on?’
Blushing, Langdon assured Stefanovic: ‘I’m excited but bittersweet to be leaving the morning team which is amazing.’
However, Stefanovic couldn’t resist taking another dig at his co-host as he announced: ‘We’ve got a big week planned for you’ before turning to Langdon and uttering: ‘Don’t go anywhere, not as if you can anyway.’
Stefanovic, 48, wasted no time discussing the big news on Monday’s broadcast, opening the show by singing along to The Beach Boys song Kokomo: ‘She’ll go out to sea, when she goes to ACA!’
He proceeded to take several other digs at his co-host throughout Monday’s broadcast.
While announcing an upcoming interview with Langdon’s replacement Sarah Abo, 35, Stefanovic wryly declared: ‘Out with the old. In with the new.’
‘Say hello to the Today Show 2023 team, Ally’s brilliant replacement joins us on the couch a little later on,’ Stefanovic added.
He proceeded to take several other digs at his co-host throughout Monday’s broadcast, including while announcing an upcoming interview with Langdon’s replacement Sarah Abo, 35, (pictured)
Elsewhere, Stefanovic made reference to the cringeworthy moment Grimshaw seemingly rejected Langdon’s hug and instead embraced Karl Steganovic during the TV veteran’s emotional farewell last week.
Grimshaw, who wrapped up her 17-year run as host on the show on Thursday night, was seen walking through a guard of honour when she appeared to ignore Langdon in the crowd.
Grimshaw has since claimed she simply didn’t see Langdon because she was too overwhelmed by the fanfare.
Elsewhere, Stefanovic made reference to the cringeworthy moment Grimshaw seemingly rejected Langdon’s hug during the TV veteran’s emotional farewell last week. Pictured is the moment Grimshaw ‘rejects’ Langdon
‘After brutally being snubbed at Tracy’s farewell , she has been named as Tracy’s replacement,’ Stefanovic mocked as footage of the viral moment played.
‘Oh no! Not again,’ Langdon groaned, before bursting into laughter.
‘That’s right. Jacqui Lambie, she’s turning her back on breakfast TV. Basically, Jacquie, turning her back on you,’ he joked.
Grimshaw is seen hugging Karl Stefanovic, who was standing next to Langdon
Langdon is officially leaving the Today show to host A Current Affair in the New Year, following Tracy Grimshaw’s shock departure.
On Sunday, Channel Nine revealed 60 Minutes reporter Sarah Abo will be stepping in to fill Langdon’s spot alongside Stefanovic as Today’s new co-host.
‘I am thrilled to be joining the wonderful and hard-working team at Today, who manage to inform the nation every morning while also having a lot of fun,’ Sarah, 35, said in a press release.
Langdon is officially leaving the Today show to host A Current Affair in the New Year, following Tracy Grimshaw’s shock departure
‘I have been incredibly fortunate to work alongside some of the country’s finest journalists at 60 Minutes and travel the nation and world bringing stories to Australian audiences,’ she went on.
‘It is an absolute privilege to meet so many inspirational people and help tell their stories. I can’t wait to put everything I’ve learned from those amazing experiences into my new role at Today.
‘The 3am alarm will be an adjustment, but I’m looking forward to keeping Karl on his toes. I know Ally will make a success of the move to ACA and I can’t wait to watch her in the chair’.
Sarah has become a familiar face on the top-rated breakfast program, recently filling in for Allison numerous times. Pictured alongside Karl Stefanovic
She will join the Today show team of Karl Stefanovic, Alex Cullen, Brooke Boney and Tim Davies on Monday 16 January, 2023.
Sarah has become a familiar face on the top-rated breakfast program, recently filling in for Langdon numerous times.
Stefanovic said that while he will ‘miss’ his former co-star Langdon, he is excited to work with Abo.
‘Ally has been extraordinary over the last three years,’ he said in a press release on Sunday.
‘I am thrilled to be joining the wonderful and hard-working team at Today, who manage to inform the nation every morning while also having a lot of fun,’ Sarah, 35, said on Sunday
‘Battling through some tough personal physical obstacles to broadcast to the country during really difficult times. She’s an incredible broadcaster and I’ll miss working with her tremendously. Though, I won’t miss her dancing,’ he joked.
‘Fortunately, Sarah is a gifted dancer and singer. More importantly, she’s a brilliant interviewer and has the most wicked sense of humour. I can’t wait for the country to see all of those wonderful qualities every day at breakfast.’
Nine’s Director of Morning Television, Steven Burling called Abo’s appointment, ‘a massive coup for Today’.
Adding: ‘Sarah has been outstanding in the Today hosting chair these past 12 months when filling in for Ally.
Stefanovic said that while he will ‘miss’ Langdon, he is excited to work with Abo
‘Sarah’s reputation precedes her; she is a compelling interviewer and journalist, as we’ve seen, not only on 60 Minutes, but also during her time at SBS and Ten.
‘Professionally, she is at the top of her game and just as importantly, Sarah is an amazing person who will help drive Today to continued success in 2023. We’re very fortunate to have Sarah as part of our team.’
Sarah started her career at Network Ten, spending two years in the Adelaide newsroom before making the move back to Melbourne, and in 2013 to joining SBS as a journalist and presenter.
She has covered major international events including the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, the 2016 US presidential election and the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan, and the 2017-18 refugee crisis in Lebanon, Turkey and Greece.
Since joining 60 Minutes in 2019, Sarah has covered major investigations and interviewed former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair
Since joining 60 Minutes in 2019, Sarah has covered major investigations and interviewed former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed, and secured Australian-first interviews with climate activist Greta Thunberg, Ukrainian first lady Olena Volodymyrivna Zelenska, and one of the Taliban’s most powerful leaders Suhail Shaheen.
Sarah was born in Damascus, Syria and moved to Australia with her family when she was four.
A Melbournian at heart, Sarah will be based out of Sydney for the Today show.
Langdon will step into the coveted role at A Current Affair in the New Year, after longtime host Tracy Grimshaw quit in September.
Langdon will step into the coveted role at A Current Affair in the New Year, after longtime host Tracy Grimshaw (pictured) quit in September
