Karl Stefanovic has been targeted by critics who say they are happy he is taking a break from Today over the Christmas break.
On Monday it was confirmed that Dr Nick Coatsworth will take over Stefanovic’s hosting duties from December 26, allowing the long-serving breakfast host to spend New Years with his family.
Following the announcement, however, some online users called for Stefanovic to be replaced permanently.
‘Please make it a permanent break’, one social media user wrote of Stefanovic’s time off.
‘Complete overhaul needed,’ another viewer agreed, as someone else complained: ‘Hopefully it is permanent, only one who thinks he is funny is him. Poor co-hosts with their fake laughs.’
![Karl Stefanovic Faces Calls for Permanent Replacement on Today Show as Surprising Christmas Fill-In is Revealed 2 Karl Stefanovic has been targeted by critics who say they are happy he is taking a break from Today over the Christmas break](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/18/03/79072297-12875573-image-m-170_1702871159137.jpg)
Karl Stefanovic has been targeted by critics who say they are happy he is taking a break from Today over the Christmas break
Stefanovic’s co-host Sarah Abo will meanwhile be replaced for the holiday season by regular Today show reporter Mia Glover.
Dr Coatsworth is Australia’s former deputy chief medical officer, and has been a regular contributor to Channel Nine on the topic of medicine.
It comes as Today’s rival Sunrise prepares to take the crown in the 2023 breakfast ratings war.
![Karl Stefanovic Faces Calls for Permanent Replacement on Today Show as Surprising Christmas Fill-In is Revealed 4 On Monday it was confirmed that Dr Nick Coatsworth (pictured) will take over Stefanovic's hosting duties from December 26, allowing the long-serving breakfast host to spend New Years with his family.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/18/03/56317711-12875573-Dr_Nick_Coatsworth_has_made_a_surprising_career_move_and_will_ho-m-147_1702870140694.jpg)
![Karl Stefanovic Faces Calls for Permanent Replacement on Today Show as Surprising Christmas Fill-In is Revealed 6 Mia Glover (pictured) will host the show alongside Dr Coatsworth](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/18/03/79066659-12875573-Mia_Glover_will_host_the_show_alongside_Dr_Coatsworth-m-149_1702870157262.jpg)
On Monday it was confirmed that Dr Nick Coatsworth (left) will take over Stefanovic’s hosting duties from December 26, allowing the long-serving breakfast host to spend New Years with his family. He will co-host the showwith Mia Glover (right)
This will be Sunrise’s 20th year of winning first in its timeslot, after taking out the top spot in the overall ratings survey last year.
According to the 2022 OzTam survey year, Sunrise had an average national daily audience of 397,000 viewers.
Seven said it was ’31 per cent bigger than its nearest competitor’.
Today, meanwhile has struggled to gain ground over Sunrise in recent years, partly due to the revolving door of presenters on the Nine show.
![Karl Stefanovic Faces Calls for Permanent Replacement on Today Show as Surprising Christmas Fill-In is Revealed 8 79072303 12875573 image a 159 1702870576692](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/18/03/79072303-12875573-image-a-159_1702870576692.jpg)
![Karl Stefanovic Faces Calls for Permanent Replacement on Today Show as Surprising Christmas Fill-In is Revealed 10 79072307 12875573 image a 163 1702870749674](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/18/03/79072307-12875573-image-a-163_1702870749674.jpg)
![Karl Stefanovic Faces Calls for Permanent Replacement on Today Show as Surprising Christmas Fill-In is Revealed 12 79072305 12875573 image a 165 1702870757973](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/18/03/79072305-12875573-image-a-165_1702870757973.jpg)
![Karl Stefanovic Faces Calls for Permanent Replacement on Today Show as Surprising Christmas Fill-In is Revealed 14 79072309 12875573 image a 164 1702870754540](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/18/03/79072309-12875573-image-a-164_1702870754540.jpg)
![Karl Stefanovic Faces Calls for Permanent Replacement on Today Show as Surprising Christmas Fill-In is Revealed 16 Following the announcement, however, some online users called for Stefanovic to be replaced permanently](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/18/03/79072287-12875573-image-a-166_1702870766579.jpg)
Following the announcement, however, some online users called for Stefanovic to be replaced permanently
![Karl Stefanovic Faces Calls for Permanent Replacement on Today Show as Surprising Christmas Fill-In is Revealed 18 It comes as Today's rival Sunrise prepares to take the crown in the 2023 breakfast ratings war. (Pictured: Stefanovic with co-host Sarah Abo)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/18/03/79066045-12874969-The_former_deputy_chief_medical_officer_and_news_presenter_Mia_G-a-25_1702868944240.jpg)
It comes as Today’s rival Sunrise prepares to take the crown in the 2023 breakfast ratings war. (Pictured: Stefanovic with co-host Sarah Abo)