In a heartfelt farewell, Karl Stefanovic, along with his colleagues, has paid tribute to Clint Stanaway, a well-regarded figure in Australian television, following his decision to leave Channel 9 after nearly a quarter of a century. Stanaway, known for his roles as the host of Weekend Today and the weekend sports presenter on 9News Melbourne, announced his departure on Tuesday. He plans to focus on his burgeoning career in radio as the newsreader for Nova 100’s Jase & Lauren.
Stanaway took to Instagram to share the news, expressing his mixed emotions. He described his decision as one made with a “heavy heart” but emphasized his desire for a better work-life balance. His post quickly garnered a wave of supportive messages from his Channel 9 colleagues, with Karl Stefanovic leading the tributes. “No one works harder. Great broadcaster. Great human. You deserve every success,” Stefanovic wrote.
Colleague Tributes and Support
The announcement has sparked an outpouring of support from Stanaway’s peers. Sarah Abo commented, “We’ll miss you so much, superstar. Best of the best, how lucky we’ve been to work alongside you – and continue to see you succeed.”
Allison Langdon from A Current Affair added, “We are crying my friend. Happy for you but hard to imagine the place without you, that charm and smile… go well legend. We love ya.”
Former Today host Lisa Wilkinson also shared her thoughts, “What an innings Clint! Good on you for choosing balance, and well done on all your fine work for Nine over the years. It was such a pleasure to share some of that time with you – one of the true gentlemen of TV. And hardest workers!”
Meanwhile, Stanaway’s Weekend Today co-host, Alison Piotrowski, expressed her sentiments: “A truly outstanding innings and a well-deserved weekend sleep-in… but selfishly I will miss you so much!”
Clint Stanaway’s Career Journey
Stanaway’s television career began with WIN in Bendigo before he joined 9News as a reporter in 2005. His talent and dedication saw him rise through the ranks, eventually becoming the weekend sports presenter on 9News and later the sports presenter on Weekend Today in 2019. Four years on, he was named co-host of Weekend Today alongside Jayne Azzopardi, who was later succeeded by Alison Piotrowski.
In addition to his television roles, Stanaway has been a key figure in Melbourne radio, serving as the newsreader for the breakfast show Jase & Lauren since 2021. Initially part of the KIIS network, the show transitioned to Nova in 2024, with Stanaway remaining a central part of the team.
Burnout and the Decision to Step Down
On Wednesday morning, Stanaway addressed his exit on Jase & Lauren, candidly discussing the burnout he experienced juggling both radio and television commitments. “I’m relieved because I’ve been thinking about it for a while now. I needed to make a decision, because looking back on how I was feeling and where my head was at, I was burnt out,” he admitted.
“I tried to juggle everything for so long. I think I did a really good job of it for so long. But I think, I always knew in my heart of hearts, it had an expiry date, and I’m now at a stage where I need to put myself in a position where I can get my life back.”
The Future of Weekend Today
As Stanaway prepares to leave his television role by the end of the year, Channel 9 has yet to announce his replacement on Weekend Today. However, speculation is rife about potential candidates. Dan Anstey, who has served as the weather presenter on Weekend Today since 2022 and has filled in for Karl Stefanovic as co-host, is among those considered a likely contender. Additionally, Tim Davies and Gavin Morris have also stepped in as co-hosts in recent years, adding to the pool of potential successors.
As Stanaway embarks on this new chapter, his departure marks the end of an era for Channel 9. His legacy, characterized by hard work, professionalism, and a genuine rapport with colleagues and audiences alike, will undoubtedly be remembered fondly.
