Danika Mason Tearfully Confirms She Is Leaving the Today Show

Danika Mason is leaving the Today show.

The sports reporter, who is expecting her first child with NRL star Liam Knight, tearfully confirmed her departure during Friday’s Channel Nine breakfast program, following reports that she was preparing to step away.

“I am going on maternity leave, as we are probably all aware, but I have had to make the decision about what I am going to do when I come back next year,” she told co-hosts Tom Steinfort, Sylvia Jeffreys and Jayne Azzopardi.

“Obviously, juggling all my NRL commitments, the Today show and a new baby as well, something had to give. So I have made the pretty tough decision that when I return next year, I won’t be coming back to the show.”

“I have absolutely loved my time with everyone. We have had the best audience and the best team. It has been such a fun two years, and everyone here in the morning, all our floor crew, you guys are just amazing. I have had the best time.”

Tom, Sylvia and Jayne shared their sadness over the news, telling Danika she would be greatly missed.

Danika joked that she would “still be waking up early” after welcoming her first child, but this time it would not be for work.

“You never know what can happen in the future, so for now we are so excited about this next chapter, but something had to give,” she added.

Her departure comes after the exits of longtime weatherman Tim Davies and former co-hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo earlier this year.

Danika, 35, has been a regular presence on the Channel Nine breakfast show since last year.

On Thursday, she shared a photo on social media showing off her growing baby bump alongside new presenter Sylvia Jeffreys, captioning the image “large and in charge.”

Her announcement follows a series of high-profile departures from the program.

Last month, longtime weatherman Tim Davies delivered an emotional farewell to viewers after seven years on the show.

The beloved 42-year-old presenter signed off surrounded by his colleagues, while producers surprised him with a series of special appearances during his final broadcast.

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Those appearances included Davies’ original producer, Gerry Campbell, as well as Qantas staff and members of the Australian Girls Choir.

Davies became visibly emotional as he thanked his colleagues for supporting him throughout his seven years on the program.

Meanwhile, former co-host Sarah Abo left the show in September after reportedly expressing her disappointment to senior Nine executives over the handling of Stefanovic’s termination. She had begun maternity leave in July.

Stefanovic’s departure in June followed his controversial podcast interview with far-right figure Tommy Robinson on The Karl Stefanovic Show.

The interview was uploaded to YouTube before being deleted hours later following a backlash.

Nine subsequently told Daily Mail that Stefanovic could not continue working at the network while also hosting his podcast.

He was abruptly removed from Today despite previously being expected to remain with the breakfast program until the end of the year.

According to News Corp, Abo’s support for her co-host further strained her relationship with Nine, which had reportedly already questioned whether the presenting partnership was working.

Nine later confirmed Abo’s departure, despite reportedly offering her another position.

In her farewell statement, Abo described motherhood as the beginning of a ‘new chapter’ and thanked viewers for welcoming her into their homes.

‘Without you, there is no Today show,’ she said.

She also paid tribute to her colleagues, saying the demanding early starts were easier when the team felt like family.

‘I’ll miss you all dearly.’

Sylvia Jeffreys and Tom Steinfort were confirmed as the replacement Today hosting team last month.