Fans beg Karl Stefanovic to return to Today as he dines with former co-star Richard Wilkins

He’s reportedly in ‘secret negotiations’ with Nine to return to the Today show, after being unceremoniously dumped from the breakfast program in December. 

And now fans have begged Karl Stefanovic to return to his old hosting role. 

After the 44-year-old dined with former co-star Richard Wilkins at a charity event on Saturday, fans couldn’t resist telling him to make a comeback. 

What the fans want! Fans have begged Karl Stefanovic (L) to return to Today after he dined with former co-star Richard Wilkins (R) at a charity dinner on Saturday

Karl had taken to Instagram to share a snap of himself and Richard with veteran journalist Ray Martin and Seven’s Larry Emdur at the Humpty Dumpty Foundation Gala in Queensland’s Noosa, which sent fans into overdrive. 

‘Time to bring you back with Georgie,’ one fan commented underneath the snap, referring to host Georgie Gardner. 

They added: ‘The Today show is so boring without you! I will start watching it again if that happens! Sylvia should be there too!’

Another fan added: ‘Miss you Karl, pleeeeease (sic) come back to the Today show.’ 

Having their say: ‘Time to bring you back with Georgie,’ one fan commented underneath the snap, referring to host Georgie Gardner

Chiming in: Another fan added: ‘Miss you Karl, pleeeeease (sic) come back to the Today show’

Over the current line-up: Another fan said: ‘Fantastic guys, missing Karl on the Today show, it will never be the same’

Another fan said: ‘Fantastic guys, missing Karl on the Today show, it will never be the same.’

A representative for Channel Nine meanwhile denied that Karl would be going back to Today, telling Daily Mail Australia on Sunday: ‘He’s not going back on [the] Today show.’ 

It comes after Woman’s Day magazine alleged this week, that Karl could jump into the hosting seat once again and that he’s in secret negotiations. 

Shooting down the possibility: A representative for Channel Nine meanwhile denied that Karl would be going back to Today, telling Daily Mail Australia on Sunday: ‘He’s not going back on [the] Today show’ (he’s pictured on the show previously with Georgie Gardner)

Would he go back? It comes after Woman’s Day magazine alleged this week, that Karl could jump into the hosting seat once again and that he’s in secret negotiations

‘Of course Nine are denying it, but it’s 100 per cent correct that they are actively chasing Karl to come back – everyone at the network knows Today needs the TV version of open-heart surgery to even survive,’ a ‘source’ told the publication.

The source added that Karl’s return to the ailing Today show is conditional on his ‘admitting defeat’ and to ‘publicly acknowledge he had to leave because of personal issues’. 

A representative for Karl however, denied the claims, telling Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday: ‘There’s no truth to this rumour whatsoever.’

Sorry, fans: A representative for Karl however, denied the claims, telling Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday: ‘There’s no truth to this rumour whatsoever’

‘Karl is not returning to Today, nor are there any talks taking place – secret, or otherwise – to that effect.’ 

Woman’s Day also reported that Nine is planning a massive overhaul of Today at the end of this year – with completely new anchors.

However, a representative has flatly denied this claim, bluntly telling Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday: ‘It’s not true.’

There is no denying, however, that the network is desperate to resuscitate the Today show, as it continues to flail in the ratings.

After Karl was dumped as co-host, Deborah Knight, 46, replaced him to co-anchor with Georgie, 49. 

New hosts: After Karl was dumped as co-host, Deborah Knight, 46, (L) replaced him to co-anchor with Georgie, 49