Sport presenter Danika Mason joins Today exodus

Today sports presenter Danika Mason has joined the Today show exodus, announcing her departure on Friday morning.

“Bit of news from me … I’m going on maternity leave,” Mason said on the show. “I’ve had to make the decision as to whether what I do when I come back next year … obviously juggling all my NRL commitments, [the] Today show, and then a new baby as well.

“Something had to give, so I’ve made a pretty tough decision … when I return next year, I won’t be coming back to the show.”

The announcement marks the fourth high-profile departure of Today presenters since June, when the network terminated media personality Karl Stefanovic’s multimedia contract after an interview with far-right British activist Tommy Robinson.

Last month, Stefanovic’s former co-host and new mum Sarah Abo confirmed she was leaving, while weather presenter Tim Davies announced he would leave the show in August. Sylvia Jeffreys and Tom Steinfort were announced as the new hosts of the Today show in September.

Mason is one of the network’s NRL and sports presenters and joined the Today show in May 2025, after beginning at Nine (also the owner of this masthead) in 2012.

In July, Mason announced she was pregnant and is married to former NRL prop Liam Knight. The decision to leave was not easy, Mason said on air.

“I’ve absolutely loved my time with everyone. We have the best audience, we have the best team, and it has been an absolute, just such a fun two years, and everyone who is in here in the morning, all our floor crew, you guys are just amazing, and I’ve had the best time,” she said

In February, Mason made international headlines and had to apologise for drinking before an awkward live cross from the Winter Olympics in Italy, during which she stumbled over her words.

Mason’s departure comes at a dire time for Nine’s flagship breakfast show, which continues to lag behind Seven’s Sunrise in the hard-fought timeslot.

More to come.

Nine is the owner of this masthead.