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Today star Sarah Abo has left the breakfast show early to go on maternity leave, the hosts announced on Wednesday morning.
Presenters Sylvia Jeffreys and Charles Croucher provided the update directly from Abo, saying the presenter had suffered a few health scares and following medical advice, decided to take leave early.
“We have a little news to share with you at home this morning, because, of course, many of our wonderful Today show viewers have been wondering where the beautiful Sarah is,” Jeffreys said.
“She wanted us to share that while her little man isn’t here just yet, last week she received a bit of a curveball with high blood pressure, and she’s been in and out of hospital.”
Abo posted to Instagram following the Today update, apologising for not being able to farewell viewers and saying that doctors had “ordered” her to rest while monitoring her health.
“Copped a bit of a curveball last week with high blood pressure and have been in and out of hospital since, thankfully I’m in the safe hands of magnificent doctors, nurses and midwives taking incredibly good care of bub and me,” Abo said.
“I won’t make it back to [the Today show] to say goodbye to all you wonderful people before so abruptly heading off on maternity leave. I’m sorry.
“Thank you for your beautiful messages of love and support, particularly the past few weeks – I seriously pinch myself when I think about how many good people there are out there.”
The announcement comes just weeks after Abo’s co-host, Karl Stefanovic, had his multimillion-dollar contract axed by Nine following his interview with the British far-right figure Tommy Robinson on his podcast, The Karl Stefanovic Show, in June.
Nine, who have been approached for comment, has yet to announce a replacement for Stefanovic. And while it is understood that Nine has been putting steps in place to replace Stefanovic ever since he notified management a few months ago that he wanted to leave, no decisions have been made.
Historically, Nine has recruited largely from within, so it would be unlikely any outsiders would take Stefanovic’s seat.
Nine’s Melbourne newsreader Tom Steinfort and Croucher have been filling in for Stefanovic over the past few weeks.
Nine’s chief executive, Matt Stanton, told staff late last month that it was “the right time for Karl to move on from the Today show and Nine”.
“Karl has been a fixture on our screens for over two decades, so we know this is a significant change for our viewers and all of us here at Nine, however, it’s the right time to make it,” Stanton said.
No further details have been confirmed regarding Abo’s maternity leave cover.
Abo announced her pregnancy in March after years of fertility struggles.
Meanwhile, on rival breakfast show Seven’s Sunrise, star presenter Natalie Barr announced the network had secured I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! next year. No hosts or further details were revealed.
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