Abo ‘abruptly’ leaves embattled Today Show after ‘curveball’

Abo ‘abruptly’ leaves embattled Today Show after ‘curveball’

Sarah Abo has departed the Today show earlier than planned, confirming she will not return to the program before the birth of her first child due to health complications. The 39-year-old presenter, who has been absent from the screen since last week, announced on Wednesday, July 16, 2026, that medical issues had forced an abrupt start to her maternity leave.

Writing to her 91,300 Instagram followers, Abo revealed she had copped a bit of a curveball last week with high blood pressure and has been in and out of hospital. She stated that doctors have ordered rest to monitor her and the baby, meaning she will miss the opportunity to provide an on-air farewell to viewers.

On Wednesday morning, stand-in hosts Sylvia Jeffreys and Charles Croucher informed the audience that while Abo hoped to return for an official goodbye, it was not possible under doctors' orders. Jeffreys noted that Abo has been reading viewer messages, which means the world to her.

Abo’s departure follows a difficult journey to pregnancy. In March, she shared an emotional segment detailing her experience with IVF and the bumpy ride involved in the process, revealing she had suffered two miscarriages with her husband of 13 years, Cyrus Moran. She described herself as still terrified during that announcement, though she later noted that things were going well as she approached the halfway mark.

The journalist expressed gratitude for the support received, specifically from those who sent gifts and cards to her unborn son. She also praised Moran, calling him her rock and joking that Harry Kane or Lionel Messi ain't got nothing on this guy!!

A program in flux

Abo’s exit coincides with a period of significant instability for the breakfast program. The show is currently navigating what is described as one of its most challenging chapters following the June departure of Karl Stefanovic. Stefanovic was axed from the program and the network after hosting a controversial interview with right-wing figure Tommy Robinson on his independent podcast, The Karl Stefanovic Show.

Abo previously appeared visibly shaken and fought back tears when announcing Stefanovic’s exit at the end of June, calling him a mate and stating he would be deeply missed. Tom Steinfort, filling in at the time, explained that Stefanovic would be injecting his energy into his independent project and that doing both was no longer possible. Nine CEO Matt Stanton told staff it was the right time for Karl to move on.

The network is now facing a ratings crisis. According to recent data, Sunrise maintains a dominant lead; on Monday, Sunrise attracted 466,000 national viewers compared to 269,000 for Today. Tuesday's figures were similar, with Sunrise pulling 465,000 and Today drawing 265,000.

Future directions and potential overhauls

With both Abo and sports presenter Danika Mason—who is also expecting her first child—set for maternity leave, Nine is considering a major reboot. Insiders told news.com.au that executives are weighing a proposal to relocate the Today show to Melbourne. This plan, originally floated by former Nine boss Sam Chisholm over two decades ago, would reportedly rebuild the show around the Melbourne-raised Abo when a relaunch occurs in 2027.

A TV executive told news.com.au that the program has suffered from a talent imbalance with one dominant personality and a support cast of beta personalities, suggesting all cast members, including Abo, will need to be re-marketed, repositioned to compete with Sunrise.

Such a shift may trigger a staff reshuffle. Reports indicate that veteran entertainment editor Richard Wilkins and Danika Mason could be affected by a dramatic overhaul.

The search for replacements

Nine has not yet announced a permanent replacement for Stefanovic, though they typically recruit from within. Current fill-in hosts Charles Croucher and Tom Steinfort are considered contenders. Betting markets have also placed Rodger Corser as a leading candidate at $3 odds, followed by Steinfort at $3.50.

To fill Abo's role, Nine is reportedly preparing to trial high-profile names. Sylvia Jeffreys and Samantha Armytage are understood to be leading candidates for the co-host chair. While Jeffreys is a strong contender due to her experience, insiders suggested concerns over her salary and her dynamics as Stefanovic's sister-in-law. Another internal frontrunner for Abo's role is newsreader Jayne Azzopardi.