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New Today show co-hosts Sylvia Jeffreys and Tom Steinfort are preparing to share the Channel Nine breakfast couch — but their professional partnership comes with a surprising twist.
The pair were once romantically involved more than a decade ago, long before they became two of Nine's most familiar faces, according to The Daily Telegraph.
The revelation comes after Nine officially confirmed Jeffreys and Steinfort as the program's new permanent hosting team last week, following a major shake-up at the network's breakfast operation.
The pair's appointment follows the decision not to renew Sarah Abo's Today contract during her maternity leave.
Abo, who filmed her final show just weeks before giving birth to her first child in July, was expected to return to the program in several months, alongside a new co-host, after Karl Stefanovic departed in June.
New Today co-hosts Sylvia Jeffreys and Tom Steinfort are preparing to share the Channel Nine breakfast couch — but their professional partnership comes with a surprising twist
She was instead told by Nine executives that her contract would not be renewed after she rejected alternative roles, including that of a newsreader.
Jeffreys and Steinfort's appointment has attracted plenty of attention, but the pair have considerably more history between them than their years working together at Nine.
Versions of how long they dated have varied, with some suggesting they were together for around eight months.
However, a source close to the former couple insisted their relationship was considerably shorter, lasting closer to a couple of months.
But the romance is now firmly in the past, with both journalists having gone on to marry and start families of their own.
Jeffreys is married to fellow journalist Peter Stefanovic, with the couple expecting their third child.
Steinfort is married to stylist Claudia Jukic, with whom he shares two children.
Their careers have remained closely intertwined over the years, with the pair repeatedly crossing paths during their time at Nine.
The pair were once romantically involved more than a decade ago, long before they became two of Nine's most familiar faces, according to The Daily Telegraph
Jeffreys has been a familiar face on the Today team for almost 15 years, joining as a reporter and newsreader before going on to co-host Weekend Today and Today Extra.
Meanwhile, Steinfort joined Nine in 2007 and has worked across some of the network's biggest programs, including A Current Affair, 60 Minutes and Nine News.
He has also previously co-hosted Weekend Today and served as Today's newsreader.
The pair have already given viewers a taste of their new partnership, with Jeffreys recently returning to the hosting chair alongside Steinfort as Nine tested several combinations of presenters.
Nine ultimately settled on Jeffreys and Steinfort after extensive research into breakfast television, viewer behaviour and audience feedback.
The network has promoted their combined four decades of journalism and presenting experience as a key strength of the new line-up.
Steinfort was quick to praise his new co-host, describing Jeffreys as a 'brilliant broadcaster, a great mate and a lot of fun'.
Jeffreys was equally enthusiastic about returning to the program, saying the show had 'always felt like home'.
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