Karl Stefanovic returning to Today with magazine set to publish Uber conversation
Karl Stefanovic's Monday morning return to the set of Channel Nine's Today show promises to be interesting, with New Idea set to publish a full account of his now infamous conversation with brother Peter Stefanovic during which they disparage co-host Georgie Gardner.
Channel Nine declined to offer any comment on the situation on Friday afternoon, however friends of Peter Stefanovic told PS: "He feels sick about it, he has spent every day for the past week apologising to people who might be involved ... including Georgie."
Karl Stefanovic and Georgie Gardner on the set of Today.
Photo: Fairfax MediaPS understands the brothers discuss the lack of "on air" chemistry and how difficult it had been for Karl to relate to Georgie as he had with his previous co-host Lisa Wilkinson, who famously left Channel Nine last year after having her contract with the network terminated as protracted negotiations fell over at the 11th hour.
New Idea management declined to comment on the story it is understood to have paid up to $50,000 for, though media observers see the ploy as a larger commercial manouevre with New Idea part of the Kerry Stokes' controlled Channel Seven stable.
Channel Seven's Sunrise has been shrouded in its own controversy this week since comments during a segment hosted by Samantha Armytage about indigenous children being taken from their families were resoundingly criticised as ignorant and damaging.
"This is a commercial decision, to damage Channel Nine and Today ... it's what Channel Seven does and the Stefanovics have loaded the bullets for them," one television insider told PS.
Peter and Karl Stefanovic in happier times at the 2011 TV Week Logie Awards.
Photo: Penny StephensKarl Stefanovic has been absent from his hosting duties all week, having suddenly been dispatched on assignment last Sunday and flying off to the Middle East just as the story of the Uber conversation began to break.
Last weekend Stefanovic held a commitment ceremony with his new love, fiance Jasmine Yarbrough, with Peter Stefanovic congratulating the pair on air on Sunday's edition of Weekend Today.
Veteran showbiz reporter Richard Wilkins gets a mention.
Photo: Nick MoirSources within New Idea deny any tapes of the conversation exist, and it is understood the story being prepared is from the impressive recollection of the Uber driver.
It is illegal to record a conversation in NSW without the consent or knowledge of all participants.
Other names mentioned in the story include Today's long-term showbiz reporter Richard Wilkins, Nine's news boss Darren Wick and Channel Nine management in general.
Senior journalist Andrew Hornery is the man behind The Sydney Morning Herald's Private Sydney column, keeping tabs on everyone from socialites to social climbers. If they are worth knowing about, you can bet they are on the PS radar.
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