Could Channel Seven’s loss be Nine’s gain? Axed star Melissa Doyle addresses rumours she is set to host the Today Show
Melissa Doyle finished up at Channel Seven this week after 25 years of service – with some wondering whether their loss could be rival network Nine’s gain.
But on Friday, the former Sunrise host, 50, ruled out a move to the Today show, which is fronted by Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon.
‘Don’t think they need me, they’ve got a great team,’ she told the Daily Telegraph.
Could Channel Seven’s loss be rival network Nine’s gain? On Friday, Melissa Doyle (pictured) , 60, revealed to The Daily Telegraph whether she had plans to host the Today show
Today has struggled in the ratings, with its lowest audience for the year recorded in March with just 155,000 metro viewers tuning in.
Karl was sacked from the Today show in December 2018 after his personal life was blamed for the declining ratings. He was reinstated as co-anchor in January this year, alongside Allison.
Meanwhile, Melissa spent over a decade as the face of rival program Sunrise along with co-host David ‘Kochie’ Koch.
Class act: ‘Don’t think they need me, they’ve got a great team,’ she said of the breakfast show hosted by Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon (Karl and Allison are pictured with weatherman Tim Davies)
End of an era: Channel Seven, along with Melissa, announced her departure from the network in an official statement on Friday
Melissa said in a statement on Friday: ‘For 25 years, I have called Channel Seven home. I’ve had the privilege to share stories that mattered, meet incredible people and be there for significant moments in history.’
She continued: ‘I am incredibly proud of the work I have done and appreciative of the trust and warmth our viewers have shown me.
‘I want to thank the consummate professionals I have worked with along the way, in particular our chairman Kerry Stokes for his constant support.’
Tough times: Her departure is believed to be the result of the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has hit Seven particularly hard
She concluded: ‘I leave Seven with a great deal of pride, satisfaction and gratitude.’
Melissa first joined Seven’s Canberra bureau as a political reporter back in 1995.
She moved to Sydney, working as a newsreader on the network’s 11AM program.
Melissa was one of Sunrise’s first hosts, before the breakfast show was temporarily axed in 1999 and brought back the following year.
Dignified: Melissa said in a statement: ‘For 25 years, I have called Channel Seven home. I’ve had the privilege to share stories that mattered, meet incredible people and be there for significant moments in history’
Early days: Melissa first joined Seven’s Canberra bureau as a political reporter back in 1995
She rejoined the program in 2002, and also hosted a string of other shows for the network, including Today Tonight.
The mother-of-two announced she was leaving Sunrise in June 2013, departing in August that same year.
Melissa remained with the network, however, presenting Seven Afternoon News and Seven News at 7.
In 2015, she was announced as host and senior correspondent for Sunday Night, but the current affairs show was cancelled in October last year as a cost-cutting measure.
Pioneer: Melissa was one of Sunrise’s first hosts, before the breakfast show was temporarily axed in 1999 and brought back the following year. Pictured alongside co-host David Koch