Today show shakeup as Samantha Armytage replaces Sylvia Jeffreys and goes head-to-head with her old colleague Nat Barr following Karl Stefanovic departure

Channel Nine's Today show is set for a shake-up next week with veteran presenter Samantha Armytage replacing fill-in Sylvia Jeffreys on co-hosting duties.

An industry insider told Daily Mail that Armytage, 49, will be temporarily presenting alongside Michael Willesee Jr. throughout next week, as the network continues its search for a permanent replacement for Karl Stefanovic.

The shake-up will see Armytage go head-to-head in the breakfast program war against her former Channel Seven Sunrise colleague Natalie Barr.

In March 2021 Armytage resigned from the long-running Seven show after eight years to spend more time with her family, and in September 2024 she signed with Channel Nine to host their reality TV series The Golden Bachelor.

Her appointment appears to be temporary as the network continues to consider its options for a more permanent replacement.

Nine's long-running breakfast show is currently without a permanent co-host after Karl Stefanovic exited the series last month following an interview with British far-right activist Tommy Robinson, while co-presenter Sarah Abo is on maternity leave.

 It follows reports that Channel Nine's search for a new Today show co-host is heating up, with veteran presenters Samantha Armytage and Sylvia Jeffreys reportedly preparing to audition as fill-ins.

According to industry sources, both Armytage and Jeffreys, 40, are expected to spend time in the co-host chair over the coming weeks, as Nine assesses who could front the struggling breakfast program, reports The Daily Telegraph.

The reported trials come amid growing speculation the network is weighing up its long-term future for the flagship breakfast show, with Stefanovic permanently gone and co-host Sarah Abo on maternity leave.

The network is also believed to be considering several options for its broader presenting team.

Longtime Newcastle NBN newsreader Jane Goldsmith is understood to be a leading contender to take over the newsreading role.

While Nine appears to have several strong female candidates in the mix, finding a permanent male co-host to replace Stefanovic is reportedly proving far more difficult.

The network is expected to use Abo's maternity leave as an opportunity to test a variety of on-air partnerships before making any long-term decisions on the future lineup.

The renewed speculation surrounding Today comes as the breakfast program struggles in the ratings, being soundly defeated by Channel Seven's competitor, Sunrise.

Meanwhile, the Nine Network has dropped the new radio show The Long Weekend from its 9Now and Stan streaming platforms following Stefanovic's exit.

Stefanovic, 51, was slated to co-host the show alongside fellow media veteran Eddie McGuire, with expectations that it would be a multi-platform rollout.

However, it would seem Nine has quietly dropped the show, which can now only be heard on Gold FM, according to the Herald Sun on Saturday.

The only episode available on Nine is the June 26 upload where McGuire addressed Stefanovic's absence following his career-ending interview with Tommy Robinson. 

Stefanovic, who sensationally left Nine after his controversial chat with the British far-right activist, only appeared in two episodes of The Long Weekend.