Karl goes diva after Tim Gilbert criticises on-air singing

Apparently only one thing can break up the TODAY Show team - a hit song by classic rock band Foreigner.

Ahead of a live performance by the band this morning, co-hosts Karl and Lisa warmed up by singing along to the band's ballad I Want To Know What Love Is, but sports presenter Tim Gilbert was unimpressed.

"Look, I don't want to be disrespectful because I'm new on the block, but can we leave it to (the band)?" he asked.

Karl wasted no time in letting Tim know how things stood.

"Woah now, it's not too late to get rid of you, Tim," he said.

"If Lisa wants to sing, she sings."

Lisa agreed, letting Tim know he was still on his probationary period on the team.

But Tim refused to back down.

"Get rid of me on that subject, I'll stand for it," he deadpanned.

Tim replaced former sports presenter Ben Fordham late last year.