Brooke Boney has announced her shock resignation from the Today Show live on air – and revealed her surprising career change.
The TV presenter, 36, confirmed she will be leaving the Channel Nine breakfast show to pursue her dreams in an emotional announcement on Friday’s program.
Brooke has been part of the show as both a news and entertainment reporter for five years, but is now leaving to go and study overseas.
She confirmed on air that she will be moving abroad to study at Oxford University from September and will be leaving the show after the 2024 Paris Olympics in August.
Boney announced: ‘I have some very big news for you this morning. I’ve been offered a place at Oxford University later this year, which means I’ll be leaving the show after the Olympics.
Brooke Boney has announced her shock resignation from the Today Show live on air in an emotional announcement on Friday morning
‘I don’t want to go into too much right now, because there’ll be plenty of time for goodbyes and thank yous, but I just wanted to share that good/bad news with you all this morning.’
Brooke will be studying an intensive one-year Masters of Public Policy course – which focuses on economics and policymaking.
The rising Nine star admitted the decision to leave her beloved role on the program was ‘really difficult’.
‘It’s been a dream of mine to be able to study at an overseas university, and it just felt like the right time to take that step,’ she explained.
‘I’m so grateful to come in here every day and I love you all so much. So it’s made the decision really difficult. But it just means that you’ll all have to plan trips to the UK to come and visit me.’
Brooke was comforted by her co-host Sarah Abo as she was left teary-eyed after sharing her big news, admitting she had ‘mixed emotions’ due to her love for her job.
‘My head is spinning right now. My heart’s beating really fast,’ she added.
Brooke has been the show’s news and entertainment reporter for five years, but is now leaving to go and study overseas at the prestigious Oxford University in a huge career change
Brooke was tearful as she confirmed her big news, admitting the decision to leave her beloved role on the program was ‘really difficult’
Karl Stefanovic also shared his pride as he gushed over her huge achievement in nabbing a place at the prestigious red brick university.
He said: ‘It’s a big deal to break away from something as secure as this, and it’s to make your dreams come true. To take that step, to bite it off, is a testament to you as a person and says everything about you.’
‘The good news is you’ll be able to catch up with my daughter to check in,’ Karl also joked of his daughter Willow, 18, who is studying at the London College of Fashion.
However, Brooke reassured fans that she will still be featuring on screens for a few more months as she will be covering the 2024 Olympics live from Paris.
‘We’re going to have a wonderful time in Paris,’ Brooke excitedly gushed.
Brooke will be studying an intensive Masters of Public Policy course, which sees students address some of this century’s most complex public policy challenges.
Brooke (pictured in November) reassured fans that she will still be featuring on screens for a few more months as she will be covering the 2024 Olympics live from Paris
Brooke first joined the Channel Nine show as an entertainment reporter as she replaced long-standing editor Richard Wilkins, before being promoted to newsreader last year
According to the course prospectus, the curriculum focuses on modules in economics, public policy, law and the politics of policymaking.
‘It is a transformative opportunity for current and future leaders with a commitment to public service,’ the course description adds.
Speaking to Nine, Brooke described working on the Today Show as a ‘privilege’ and said ‘never in her wildest dreams’ did she think she would be on the program.
Despite her big change, she hasn’t ruled out a return to TV in the future and said she hopes her studies will help her decide on what to do next in her career.
‘I thought if I don’t do this now, then I’m probably never going to. I am at that age where if I leave now and go and study and come back, I’ll still only be 38,’ she said.
‘That still leaves plenty of time to sort of carve out the next part of what my career is.
Despite her big change, she hasn’t ruled out a return to TV in the future and said she hopes her studies will help her decide on what to do next in her career
‘I’d love to be able to come back and still do things with Nine and figure out what that looks like.’
Steven Burling, Nine’s director of morning television, said of Brooke’s exit: ‘We couldn’t be prouder of Brooke as she embarks on this challenge in the latter part of the year, she inspires us all as she follows her dreams, wherever they take her.’
Brooke started her television career as political correspondent for SBS before moving to NITV, and she then joined the Today Show back in 2019.
She first joined the Channel Nine show as an entertainment reporter as she replaced long-standing editor Richard Wilkins, who moved across to Today Extra.
Brooke has soared to acclaim during her TV presenting career and even hosted the 2023 ARIA Awards last year
She said at the time: ‘I’m really thrilled to be joining the team and so excited to be working alongside Richard Wilkins. He’s such a legend in the business.
‘It’s such an exciting time to be joining Nine and am looking forward to learn from everyone on the Today team.
‘As a young girl growing up in the country I watched Today so it’s really awesome to know it’ll be my new home.’
Last year, Brooke was then promoted to newsreader, taking over from Alex Cullen, who moved to focus solely on sport.