Channel Nine has announced that popular journalist Sophie Walsh will be replacing Jayne Azzopardi as co-host of Weekend Today alongside Clint Stanaway.
A veteran of Nine News, Walsh, 38, steps into her new role after Azzopardi, 44, moved on to fill the news and entertainment spot at Today.
The role was left vacant by Brooke Boney who exited the job on Friday ahead of a move to study in the U.K.
Walsh is well known to viewers as Weekend Today’s news presenter, a gig she has held since early 2023.
‘I’m thrilled to be moving into the host seat alongside my great mate Clint, not only is he a brilliant journo, he can field a curveball like no other,’ Sophie said in a statement about her new job.
‘We’ve already shared so many great moments together on Weekend Today and I’m looking forward to stepping up into the new role and giving our viewers an authentic and fun start to their weekend.’
Before her Weekend Today job, Walsh was Nine News European correspondent.
She made headlines in 2020 when she was attacked live on air (and off-camera) while covering a violent street protest in the U.K.
Channel Nine has announced that popular journalist Sophie Walsh will be replacing Jayne Azzopardi as co-host of Weekend Today. (Pictured)
Walsh kicked off her career at WIN TV in Bundaberg, Queensland before landing a high profile gig with Nine News in Sydney in 2009.
It comes after long time Today presenter Brooke Boney made a tearful farewell to viewers on Friday ahead of her move to the U.K. and study at the prestigious Oxford University.
The news and entertainment reporter, 37, who began working with the Channel Nine breakfast show in January 2019, was given flowers from her colleagues as she gave a heartfelt statement live on-air.
Walsh, 38, will be in the chair alongside regular co-host Clint Stanaway
‘I’d like to say thank you to the audience for accepting me. I’m grateful to every one of you for tuning in every day,’ Brooke began.
‘It’s a privilege to go over to Oxford, but it is even more of one that I have got this much love around me. It makes it difficult to leave.’
The veteran presenter added her appointment on the show was a huge milestone for Indigenous Australians, and thanked the team for taking a chance on her.
‘Today was the first breakfast show in the country to put an Aboriginal person on as a full time host. Now it is a very normal thing to do in this time slot, and I’m proud of that.’
Host Karl Stefanovic, 50, then paid tribute to Brooke with some touching words: ‘We love you and everything you represent, and how hard you work. You have such an immediate connection with everyone.’
Meanwhile, co-host Sarah Abo, 38, said they were so proud of Brooke and wished her the best of luck for the future.
In March, Boney shocked viewers when she announced her resignation live on air.
A veteran of Nine News Walsh steps into her new role after Azzopardi, 44, (L) moved on to fill the news and entertainment spot at Today
The reporter confirmed she will be stepping down after the Olympics in July and August to pursue an exciting new career opportunity.
Boney broke down in tears when she announced in March that she will be leave Today and move abroad to study a Masters of Public Policy at prestigious Oxford University.
On Tuesday, Channel Nine confirmed that Jayne Azzopardi, who co-hosts Weekend Today with Clint Stanaway, will be Boney’s replacement.
Today’s news and entertainment role role was left vacant by Brooke Boney (pictured) who exited the job on Friday ahead of a move to study at Oxford University in the U.K.
Steven Burling, Nine’s Director of Morning Television said
the Network is ‘thrilled’ to welcome Azzopardi to Today in the news chair.
Azzopardi, 44, started at Nine in 2009 as a political journalist in Canberra before joining the Sydney newsroom in 2011.
She has also previously been a newsreader for Weekend Today and was named as host in April 2023.
