'Should we bring Karl back?' Pauline Hanson smashes Deborah Knight and says SHE is to blame for the Today show's ratings plunge – after she brought up One Nation slipping in the polls
- Pauline Hanson attacked Deborah Knight, blaming her for show's poor ratings
- She appeared on the Today Show ahead of the federal election on Saturday
- Knight asked her about her party's lack of support, to which she hit back hard
- 'Should you hand over your job or should we bring Karl back?' Ms Hanson said
Pauline Hanson has attacked Today Show host Deborah Knight, saying she is to blame for the show's poor ratings following the sacking of Karl Stefanovic.
The One Nation leader appeared on the show ahead of the federal election on Saturday, and was asked about her party's lack of support.
'The latest Newspoll, it shows support for One Nation collapsing to four per cent, on par with Clive Palmer's party,' Knight said.
Pauline Hanson has attacked Today Show host Deborah Knight, saying she is to blame for the show's poor ratings following the sacking of Karl Stefanovic
'In light of all the things you've faced, all the scandals, all the things that have been going on, can you really blame people for having their doubts about One Nation and considering Clive over you?'
The Queensland Senator hit back on a personal level, attacking both the show's ratings and Knight's performance in Stefanovic's position.
'I've actually gone up since the last election, unlike your show, Deb, since you have taken over you have gone down in your viewership,' Ms Hanson said.
Share this article
'So, should you hand over your job or should we bring Karl back? Should we bring Karl back? You have a go at me about this all the time.'
Knight was shocked by the attack, to which she defended by saying she wasn't attacking Ms Hanson and her party personally, but just doing her job.
'It is my job to ask you questions that I think, as a journalist, I'm doing,' Knight said.
'I'm putting facts to you that that is what the Newspoll is showing, and obviously the polls have been wrong in the past, which is what you are indicating.'
The Today Show's viewership has plummeted since the the departure of Stefanovic, despite hopes of regaining some of the audience this year.
Knight was shocked by the attack, to which she defended by saying she wasn't attacking Ms Hanson and her party personally, but just doing her job
Before Stefanovic was sacked on December 19, the show's ratings averaged between 220,000 - 245,000 metro viewers.
During its debut with a new lineup in January, the breakfast show was smashed in the ratings by Channel Seven competitor Sunrise, drawing in just 197,000 metro viewers.
However in March, Channel Nine's flagship program hit an all-time low and was even beaten by ABC's News Breakfast, pulling in just 167,000 metro viewers - the shows lowest figures since 2006.
