Lisa Wilkinson's Emotional Return to Today Show After Almost Ten Years
In a nostalgic moment for Australian television, Lisa Wilkinson made a highly anticipated return to the Today show set on Wednesday, marking her first appearance on the Nine breakfast program in almost a decade. The 66-year-old former host, who left the show in 2017 following a well-publicised pay dispute, was warmly welcomed back by current presenters Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo.
A Reunion Steeped in Nostalgia and Shared History
While the official purpose of Wilkinson's visit was to promote her new book, The Titanic Story of Evelyn, the conversation quickly turned toward the palpable chemistry and shared history between Wilkinson and Stefanovic. The pair co-hosted Today together for over a decade, creating one of Australian breakfast television's most memorable partnerships.
'That whole period for me, obviously, we had our ups and downs. But we had a lot of ups,' Stefanovic told Wilkinson during the emotional reunion. He revealed that in anticipation of her return, he had been watching archival clips of their time together, describing it as 'walking down memory lane' with his long-time colleague.
Memorable Moments and Undated Humour
The producers played a montage of classic moments from Wilkinson and Stefanovic's tenure, including humorous segments that demonstrated their unique on-screen dynamic. Current host Sarah Abo observed that their particular brand of comedy has stood the test of time.
'It's very funny, and it's still so humorous to this day – it doesn't date, this stuff,' Abo remarked, though Stefanovic jokingly countered when footage showed them getting unusually close to an iced doughnut, 'Some of it dates.'
Wilkinson reflected on their working relationship, noting she was often unaware of what she was saying during their live broadcasts. 'So often I would say things to you, and I wouldn't realise what I was saying until I would see you,' she told Stefanovic, with Abo adding that his reactive style could catch anyone off guard.
Brief Promotion of Titanic Survivor Investigation
Amid the nostalgia, Wilkinson did manage to briefly discuss her new book, which represents three years of passionate research. The Titanic Story of Evelyn is an in-depth investigation into Evelyn Marsden, the only Australian-born survivor of the 1912 Titanic disaster.
'This is something that I have been so passionate about for the last three years,' Wilkinson explained. She revealed the project originated from a conversation with her husband, author Peter FitzSimons, when they were looking at a photograph of the Titanic.
'I said to him: "Have you ever checked to see if there are any Australians on board? Because there could be an amazing story there."' Wilkinson continued. 'He got busy, didn't check. I thought: "I can check. I'll do this". And I discovered that there were six Australians on the Titanic, something I never knew. But there was only one Australian-born survivor.'
Reflections on a Decade-Long Partnership
The reunion prompted reflection on Wilkinson and Stefanovic's remarkable ten-year partnership, which ended in 2017 when Wilkinson departed after discovering significant pay disparity between them. In a previous interview, Stefanovic had marvelled at the longevity of their professional relationship.
'It's a miracle that people go beyond three years. We did ten years. Some marriages don't last that long,' he told Stellar magazine last year. 'So as far as I'm concerned, for us to have gone ten years, I think woo hoo to us! And I will compartmentalise that as a great period of my life, in all honesty.'
The atmosphere on set was clearly celebratory, with Wilkinson teasing her return on social media the previous day. Both Stefanovic and Abo expressed their excitement, with Stefanovic joking about alarm settings and Abo asking if Wilkinson had cleared her calendar for August.
Wilkinson's brief but meaningful return to the Today show demonstrated that certain television partnerships create enduring connections that transcend time, contracts, and even the most compelling historical narratives.
