Channel Nine is reshuffling the hosting lineup on Today, with Mike Willesee Jr. set to be removed from the breakfast show as the network trials a new on-air pairing next week.
Former Farmer Wants A Wife host Samantha Armytage will join 60 Minutes journalist Tom Steinfort at the desk while regular co-host Sarah Abo is away on maternity leave.
The move marks a return to breakfast television for Armytage. Steinfort, for his part, is no stranger to the Today set, having served as the show's newsreader during the Deborah Knight and Georgie Gardner era in 2019.
According to industry insiders, Steinfort is highly regarded by Nine management and remains a popular figure behind the scenes, with executives optimistic the new pairing will strike the right chemistry on air.
The arrangement comes after Armytage and Willesee drew sharp criticism from viewers during their time together this week. Some described the pair as "drab and boring," with several saying they switched off within moments of tuning in. Others, however, praised the duo as professional and credible journalists.
Ratings figures suggest the rotating lineup has yet to deliver Nine a boost. On Armytage's first morning on Monday, Today attracted 707,000 viewers compared to 1.17 million for rival breakfast show Sunrise. On Tuesday, Today recorded 654,000 viewers against Sunrise's 1.125 million.
Nine is understood to be treating the Armytage-Steinfort pairing as a temporary solution, though the chemistry between the two will be closely watched as executives continue looking for ways to improve the program's ratings performance.
