Michael Atkinson has been announced as the new co-host of Weekend Today.
Channel Nine confirmed the news on Friday, revealing the Queensland father of three would join co-host Alison Piotrowski on the weekend edition of the popular breakfast show.
He joins the team permanently after a summer stint on the desk.
‘I’m excited and proud to be joining the Today family and becoming part of a program that’s such a trusted part of Australians’ weekends. I grew up in regional Queensland where weekends are about family, sport and catching up on what matters, so this role feels especially meaningful,’ Atkinson said in a statement.
‘I’ve always had a passion for sport and the impact it has on our lives, so I’m fortunate to be continuing to host Stan Sport’s rugby coverage and my love for live sport, while taking on my new role co-hosting Weekend Today.
‘I’m very lucky to be working alongside such professionals and outstanding people in Ali, Lizzie and Dan, as well as the exceptional team behind the cameras.’
Michael Atkinson has been announced as the new co-host of Weekend Today. Channel Nine confirmed the news on Friday, revealing the Queensland father of three would join co-host Alison Piotrowski on the weekend edition of the popular breakfast show
It comes after veteran Channel Nine presenter Clint Stanaway departed Weekend Today and the network after 25 years last year in September
Meanwhile, Piotrowski praised her new colleague and said she is looking forward to working with him.
‘Michael jumped into the hot seat over summer and took to the show like a duck to water. He’s sports mad, incredibly knowledgeable, and has a wonderful sense of humour. We’re looking forward to making Weekend Today even better for our viewers in 2026,’ she said.
Atkinson’s media career began at 29, and he worked across 9News Gold Coast and Brisbane as a sports journalist and presenter.
He has also contributed to significant broadcasts with Nine’s Wide World of Sports, including the Brisbane International and Suncorp Super Netball, and will continue to work with Stan Sport.
It comes after veteran Channel Nine presenter Clint Stanaway departed Weekend Today and the network after 25 years last year in September.
He announced the shock news in a statement as he admitted he had been dealing with a significant workload that he hoped to minimise.
‘It’s been a huge workload juggling both TV and being part of the Melbourne Nova breakfast team over the past couple of years,’ Clint began.
‘I am passionate about my newfound love for radio and have decided to give it priority moving forward, while I also look to strike a better work/life balance.’
The announcement follows rumours Channel Nine is preparing for life after Karl Stefanovic, with the network quietly plotting a major shake-up of the Today show
Channel Nine is said preparing for life after Karl Stefanovic, with the network quietly plotting a major shake-up of the Today show.
An insider told Media Diary that Karl’s succession plan was actively being ‘war-gamed’ at the highest levels inside Nine’s North Sydney headquarters.
Some executives are calling for a radical overhaul of Today’s long-running format, arguing the show must be ‘blown up’ and rebuilt from scratch if it’s to ever seriously challenge Channel Seven’s Sunrise in the ratings war.
The shake-up comes as Karl approaches more than two decades at the helm of the number two breakfast show in the country.
Despite being partnered with a parade of high-profile co-hosts over the years – including Jessica Rowe, Lisa Wilkinson, Allison Langdon and most recently, Sarah Abo – Today has consistently been beaten by Sunrise under Karl’s tenure.
The new Weekend Today host star has some very unique ideas.
In January he was chatting with Queensland Premier David Crisafulli about an individual accused of cutting a telecommunications cable just hours before a cyclone was expected to hit the state’s far north.
‘I reckon it’s the lowest act any human could possibly do,’ the Premier said.
‘In a disaster event, communications are everything, and what that low life did by trying to steal a bit of copper and cutting that cable is, he or she put at risk the lives of many, many thousands of people in those northern suburbs of Townsville.’
Michael agreed wholeheartedly with Premier Crisafulli’s assessment, offering his own bizarre form of punishment.
‘I reckon you’d be within your rights to zip tie them to a palm tree on the coast as the cyclone crosses the coastline, Premier.’
One eagle-eyed viewer filmed the exchange and uploaded a clip to TikTok.
‘This news presenter is wild for saying this. Someone was stealing copper in Townsville and knocked the phone lines out,’ they wrote.
They also added: ‘Also, the other presenter’s face,’ referring to co-host Lara Vella’s visual response to Michael’s call.
It seems that Michael’s harsh punishment was welcomed, with many viewers commenting positively on the video.
‘This presenter is the bomb, he needs his own time slot. Have been loving the holiday presenters, they’re light and hilarious,’ one offered.
Another chimed in with a similar sentiment: ‘That’s the most Australian thing I have heard this year.’
A third summed up the sentiment of many with: ‘Love the humour – we need more of this! Also, I agree, zip tie for sure!’
It wasn’t all praise, however, with some slamming the Nine star with: ‘Mainstream media trying to incite violence + vigilantes.’
Another added: ‘That presenter was playing out some kind of personal fantasy live on air.’
