Eddie McGuire confirms Karl Stefanovic will no longer co-host The Long Weekend
Eddie McGuire has confirmed that Karl Stefanovic will no longer be co-hosting The Long Weekend alongside him.
Appearing solo on the fourth episode of the weekly radio show and vodcast, the 61-year-old delivered a brief statement confirming recent media speculation that Stefanovic would not be returning to the program.
ARN has confirmed the future of Karl Stefanovic and Eddie McGuire's show. ARN
“As extensively reported this week, my co-host and friend Karl Stefanovic will no longer be part of The Long Weekend show, as he dedicates the next phase of his amazingly successful career to his podcast, The Karl Stefanovic Show,” McGuire said.
“I wish Karl the best of luck as his storied and ever-colourful media journey continues.”
“Good on you, Karlos. It was short and sweet, mate and I wish you all the best.”
The Long Weekend was a multi-platform agreement through Nine and the Australian Radio Network (ARN), but it had been reported that it will no longer go ahead following Stefanovic’s departure from Nine on June 26.
Stefanovic had only appeared on two episodes before his departure.
ARN declined to comment when approached by Nine newspapers and have yet to release a statement to nine.com.au.
The Long Weekend was pegged as a weekly, three-hour format set to air each Friday with “great music, unmissable banter, big personalities, big opinions, and no-holds-barred discussions that will set the tone for the weekend ahead.”
The show was initially set to launch on June 19 on the GOLD Network, but it eventually premiered a week earlier on Friday, June 12.
Stefanovic and McGuire were scheduled to present the show together. Flavio Brancaleone, Getty Images
On June 26, after news of Stefanovic’s departure from Nine was made public, McGuire held down the fort alone to host alongside newsreader Georgia Love.
“My co-host Karl Stefanovic will not be joining us on the show today; he remains overseas,” McGuire told listeners during the opening moments of the show.
“Karl asked to take leave because of the intense negotiations and reactions to his controversial podcast with Tommy Robinson on his independent podcast The Karl Stefanovic Show.”
McGuire initially said that Stefanovic would return to the show to discuss the “most tumultuous few days of his career,” but that will no longer take place.
Stefanovic’s departure from Nine and Today was confirmed in a statement on Friday after 26 years at the network.
“Nine Entertainment and Karl Stefanovic have agreed that it is no longer possible for him to continue hosting Today at the same time as his independent podcast,” a statement from Nine read.
“While Karl and Nine had previously agreed he would leave Today at the end of this year, they have subsequently decided he will leave the network immediately.”
Nine Entertainment is the publisher of this website.
Stefanovic’s departure came after he hosted controversial British far-right figure and anti-Islam agitator Tommy Robinson on his independent podcast last week.
The podcast was taken down after less than 12 hours online.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Cristopher Yaxley-Lennon, has twice been denied an Australian visa and has a number of criminal convictions, including for assault and drug possession.
He has previously been labelled a “far-right thug” by leading UK conservative figures Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage.
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