TV

Lisa Wilkinson Has Quit ‘Today’ For ‘The Project’ Over An Alleged Pay Dispute

Karl called it "a bit of a shock".

by Tom Clift  17 October 2017
Lisa Wilkinson Karl Stefanovic

Want more Junkee in your life? Sign up to our newsletter, and follow us on Instagram and Facebook so you always know where to find us.

TV host Lisa Wilkinson has announced her shock departure from Today, after Channel Nine reportedly refused to pay her the same amount as her co-host Karl Stefanovic.

Wilkinson announced via Twitter that Monday morning’s episode would be her last, after 10 years with the program. A short time later, she revealed she had signed on as a host of Channel 10’s The Project, in a deal that will reportedly make her the highest paid woman on Australian television.

“I want to thank Channel Nine for the privilege of co-hosting the Today Show for the last ten years,” she said in a statement. “I would particularly like to acknowledge my colleagues Karl, Sylvia, Georgie, Tim, Richard, Stevie and Natalia, as well as all the hard working producers and the entire team behind the cameras — every one of them has contributed to the incredible success of the show.”

According to The Daily Telegraph, the defection came after Nine refused to budge on Wilkinson’s demand that she be paid the same as Stefanovic. The paper reported than Stefanovic is on $2 million a year, while Wilkinson previously earned $1.1 million a year. Channel Nine was reportedly willing to up her pay to $1.8 million, but it was not enough to keep her with the network.

Nine, for its part, has disputed the idea that Wilkinson’s departure was about pay parity, telling The Telegraph that Stefanovic earned more because of his additional duties, such as his commitments on 60 Minutes. “The new offer would have put them on the same pay scale for Today” the network claimed.

Related

Regardless, Wilkinson’s decision has been praised as a victory for women in the entertainment industry.

Stefanovic addressed Wilkinson’s departure on the air this morning, calling it “a bit of a shock”.

“For 10 years Lisa has dragged herself out of bed at 3.30 in the morning, fed the dogs and cats, put a load of washing on, come into work and sat on my left,” he said. “For 10 years she handled those brutal hours with grace, beauty, intelligence and a wicked, wicked sense of humour. For whatever reason, she won’t be doing that any more, and it was a surprise to us all.”

He also thanked Wilkinson for her support and friendship over the years. “Whatever you do and wherever you go, you do so having left your mark on this show, and on this man. And mostly you go with my love.”

“Enjoy the sleep-ins,” he added.

Further details of Wilkinson’s involvement with The Project will be revealed in the coming months.

In the meantime, her new co-hosts appear to be welcoming her with open arms.