Deb & Karl’s SECRET PACT REVEALED!
Georgie’s Today co-stars joined forces behind her back
Abitter exchange of words in the makeup chair over the Today pecking order finally made co-host Deborah Knight snap and join forces with former frontman Karl Stefanovic to plot Georgie Gardner’s demise.
“Deb could see the writing on the wall a while back and when she got wind of the Karl’s comeback she knew she needed to align herself with him, so she cleverly planted herself in ‘Camp Karl’,” says our source, adding, “Deb did what she had to in an attempt to save herself, and who cares about the consequences for Georgie!”
‘SMILING ASSASSIN’
Reinstated in his top spot, our source says Karl, 45, had the pick of who would star alongside him and chose Allison Langdon, but Deb was determined not to be left out.
“Deb is like a smiling assassin! She’s cashed in on being the likeable girl nextdoor-type who loves a chat, but quietly behind the scenes for the past few months she’s been plotting her escape plan for when the axe would come down. She’s stayed in regular touch with Karl, knowing he would ultimately make the decision about who stays on in the newsreader seat after Tom [Steinfort] got his marching orders back to 60 Minutes,” tells our Nine insider.
“Deb and Karl also have the same manager [Sharon Finnigan], who has been busy behind the scenes negotiating the plum role for Karl – and made certain Deb was in pole position for the Today newsreader job.”
‘Deb could see the writing on the wall a while back’
But while Deb, 46, might think her work is done, according to our source the battle’s only just beginning.
“The problem now is that Deb is determined not to relinquish her current role of reading the 6pm bulletin on Fridays and Saturdays – she’s held onto that so tight this past year. But Georgie wants that job back and she will get it – Deb will have no choice in the matter because it’s one or the other.
“It’s well-known that Georgie is very popular as a newsreader. Deb will just have to cop it on the chin.”
Our source says there’s no love lost between Georgie, 49, and Deb, who first butted heads when Georgie insisted Deb cut her hair because it was too similar to hers.
“Things were awful on set. If Deb got into hair and makeup before Georgie she would sit there with her noise-cancelling headphones on and only take them out when the hairdryer was on – they literally didn’t speak.”
As for relations between Karl and Georgie, they’ve never been worse.
“Georgie has stated in no uncertain terms will she appear alongside Karl – not after he humiliated her during the Ubergate scandal. And now she’s figured out that he sided with Deb, she’ll never forgive him!”