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Karl Stefanovic farewells Lisa Wilkinson: ‘We’re all a little bit shocked’

Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson during their top rating days on Nine's <i>Today.</i>

Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson during their top rating days on Nine's Today. Photo: Nine

Karl Stefanovic has made an odd, carefully-worded farewell tribute to Lisa Wilkinson the morning after her shock departure from the Today show.

With backlash mounting against Nine about Wilkinson’s defection to Ten’s The Project – reportedly over the network refusing to match her salary to that of Stefanovic  – her former co-host pleaded ignorance about why she left.

His take on it? “For whatever reason, she won’t be doing [Today] anymore,” he said on air on Tuesday.

Before that, Stefanovic painted a picture of how Wilkinson, 57, had juggled her professional duties with her private life.

“Farewell to our beloved Lisa after ten years on Today,” Stefanovic, 43, said in a controlled voice.

“For 10 years Lisa has dragged herself out of bed at 3:30 in the morning, fed the dogs and cats, put a load of washing on and come into work to inform you of what was happening in the world.

“For 10 years she handled those hours with grace, beauty, intelligence and a wicked, wicked sense of humour,” said Stefanovic.

“It’s safe to say it’s come as a bit of a shock and will take a while for it to sink in. So for now, just this, Lisa. Thank you.”

While reports called Stefanovic “emotional”, his usual off-the-cuff charm was missing in his piece to camera talking about Wilkinson.

A montage was screened of highlights of Wilkinson’s decade as co-host of the show, including her playing tennis, dancing and feeding a giraffe a carrot with her mouth.

“Thank you for the laughs, the sage advice, the calmness, oh, the calmness, the support,” said Stefanovic, injecting a touch more personality into his tribute.

“Thanks for being a great colleague, a great interviewer, thanks for being a great dancer and a truly, truly terrible singer.

“Thanks for being a great mum, I know you value that more than anything else. And thanks for being a great friend.

“Whatever you do or wherever you go, you do so having made your mark on this show and this man.”

“Mostly you go with my love, lots of love, all my love. We will see you soon, maybe after midday. Enjoy the sleep.
”

Today’s newsreader Sylvia Jeffreys appeared to tear up as she too praised Wilkinson.

“It is a start of a brilliant and exciting new chapter and I will be cheering her on as I always do as she takes on this next challenge,” said Jeffreys.

“Seeing is believing for young girls and for young women and what they see in Lisa is a strong, influential, fun and compassionate woman at the very, very top of her game and that is a very powerful thing.”

Wilkinson announced her departure from Today on Twitter on Monday night, then minutes later Ten confirmed she is joining The Project in a senior hosting role.

“I have some news. I’m sad to say that today was my last day on the Today show,” Wilkinson tweeted, before later thanking “everyone for all your lovely messages”.

Tweeted her husband, journalist Peter FitzSimons, “That’s my Missus. Got a new job in 45 minutes!”

Wilkinson has stayed mum on why she quit, but it has been reported Stefanonic is on a $6 million, three-year deal. The Australian and the ABC claimed Wilkinson was offered $1.8 million a year, but turned it down.

Meanwhile, Wilkinson accepted a dinner invitation from Melissa Doyle, a former co-host at SunriseToday’s morning show rival, tweeting, “That’s a date @melissadoyle!”

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