Another one bites the dust! Today show weather presenter Natalia Cooper leaves her role just weeks into maternity leave... after dramatic revamp saw Karl Stefanovic and Sylvia Jeffreys exit
Today show weather presenter Natalia Cooper has left her role with the breakfast program just weeks into beginning her maternity leave.
The 35-year-old will leave behind the role she has held since 2016 to transition back to presenting news.
A Nine spokesman told Daily Mail Australia: 'Natalia is on maternity leave and will return to Nine News in Sydney as it is a more suitable environment and more flexibility for a working parent than on the road with Today show weather.'
Another one bites the dust! Today show weather presenter Natalia Cooper (pictured) leaves her role just weeks into maternity leave as 'another male was needed' on female-heavy line-up
On Friday, Confidential quoted an insider who claimed that the popular weather girl was 'pushed' from the role.
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'When Natalia left she very much wanted to come back to the role,' the paper's source alleged.
The column goes on to claim that with, 'three women already on the panel, another male was needed.'
However a Channel Nine spokesperson tells Daily Mail Australia 'there’s no truth' to those allegations and Natalia has simply shifted into a more suitable role at the network.
Confidential claims an insider says: 'When Natalia left she very much wanted to come back to the role' and that she was 'pushed out'
Natalia and husband Carl Fox had a son, named Ezra, on January 28, and the TV host is a few weeks into her maternity leave.
The latest exit from the troubled breakfast program comes after a recent revamp that has seen stars Karl Stefanovic, Peter Stefanovic and Sylvia Jeffreys exit, while Richard Wilkins was demoted.
The new-look Today show includes entertainment reporter Brooke Boney, Tony Jones, Deborah Knight, Georgie Gardner and Tom Steinfort.
Veteran TV weatherman Steve Jacobs also recently resumed his old job on the beleaguered breakfast show.
The column claims that with: 'three women already on the panel, another male was needed'
However a Channel Nine spokesperson tells Daily Mail Australia: 'there’s no truth' to those allegations and Natalia has simply shifted into a more suitable role at the network
Steve, who was the main weather presenter for Today between 2005 and 2016, joined the show's new line-up to take the reigns from Natalia while she was way on maternity leave.
Natalia took over the job from Steve back in 2016, after he relocated to Vanuatu in a last-ditch effort to save his marriage to then-wife Rosie.
It's likely Nine bosses are hoping charismatic Steve will help to win back viewers for Today following a disastrous start to the ratings period.
It's unclear if he will now take over the role full time.
Back: Veteran TV weatherman Steve Jacobs (second from left) recently resumed his old job and took the reigns from Natalia while she was way on maternity leave. It's unclear if he will now take over the role full time
New in: The new-look Today show includes new entertainment reporter Brooke Boney, Tony Jones, Deborah Knight (right) Georgie Gardner (centre) and Tom Steinfort (left)
Deborah Knight was brought in to replace Karl Stefanovic as co-host, after he was axed amid poor ratings.
Karl was axed from the breakfast program during his honeymoon with new wife Jasmine Yarbrough late last year.
News reporter Tom Steinfort was brought in to replace Sylvia Jeffreys, who is rumoured to be moving into a prime-time slot with A Current Affair.
Sylvia's husband Peter Stefanovic also parted ways with the Weekend Today show in a massive shakeup at the network.
Out: The latest exit from the troubled breakfast program after a recent revamp that has seen stars Karl Stefanovic (pictured) Peter Stefanovic and Sylvia Jeffreys exit
Incoming: Deborah Knight (left) was brought in to replace Karl Stefanovic, after he was axed last month amid poor ratings
After five years as sports reporter, Tim Gilbert was also dropped from the Channel Nine show in January, during what was called a 'bloodbath' at the network.
It was expected Today would have a ratings spike with viewers tuning in to see the new lineup.
But it appears that those hopes have been dashed with the release of recent ratings.
The ratings situation has executives considering if the panel needs even further tweaks, Confidential has claimed.
The paper previously reported that, 'a source from a rival network' is alleged to have claimed that there is 'already talk that the Today panel will be reassessed if things do not improve by Easter.'
Out: After five years as sports reporter, Tim Gilbert (left) was also dropped from the Channel Nine show in January, during what was called a 'bloodbath' at the network
Changes: It was expected Today would have a ratings spike with viewers tuning in to see the new lineup. But he results show that Today is experiencing its lowest ratings since 2006
New arrival: Natalia and husband Carl Fox (left) had a son, named Ezra, on January 28, and the TV host was a few weeks into her maternity leave when the announcement was made
Send off: In December, the pregnant star revealed she'd been on forced bed rest after falling ill, after being notably absent from the set of the Today show. She began her maternity leave shortly after, receiving a warm send-off from her cast mates
Natalia welcomed her son Ezra late last month, sharing the good news on Instagram.
In December, the pregnant star revealed she'd been on forced bed rest after falling ill, after being notably absent from the set of the Today show.
'It hasn't all been smooth sailing. The doctor said that they wanted me to stay at home and rest and get some good sleep and take care of myself and just make sure that everything was OK,' she explained to viewers and fans of the show.
She began her maternity leave shortly after, receiving a warm send-off from her cast mates.
The bubbly weather girl married musician Carl Fox in March 2016, after meeting at a Perth pub more than eight years ago.
The couple wed at Merribee House on the South Coast of New South Wales, surrounded by family and friends.
Happy pair: The bubbly weather girl married musician Carl Fox in March 2016, after meeting at a Perth pub more than eight years ago
