TVNZ presenters Pippa Wetzell, Toni Street and Alison Pugh.
TVNZ presenters Pippa Wetzell, Toni Street and Alison Pugh.
Toni Street is back on Seven Sharp and looking better than ever, with a Farrah Fawcett hair style to go with Mike Hosking's trendy do.
In early March, the 31-year-old presenter left Seven Sharp on maternity leave, with Fair Go's Pippa Wetzell filling in. No sooner was Street back onset, the rumour mill started within TVNZ that musical chairs were set to happen again.
Breakfast host Alison Pugh, is due on maternity leave shortly and speculation has it that Street will return to Breakfast while Wetzell fills in on Seven Sharp.
A TVNZ spokesperson neither confirmed nor denied speculation, saying only: "Viewers and TVNZ are all delighted to have Toni back on Seven Sharp."
Breakfast presenter Pugh, 29, announced her pregnancy live on-air in June, confirming she was expecting her first child with fiancé, musician Jo Barus.
Prime Minister John Key was in the studio to give his congratulations.
Pugh's past rival for the Breakfast couch, Nadine Chalmers-Ross, filled in for Hosking on Seven Sharp that night and also announced big news, that she was engaged to film and TV producer, Dan Higgins.
Both presenters had competing women's mag stories about their news.
When Chalmers-Ross was congratulated by Simon Dallow as One News crossed to Seven Sharp, Chalmers-Ross said: "Don't look down - it's not that kind of big news" - a direct reference to pregnant Pugh's reveal earlier that day. She then flashed her expensive Naveya and Sloane engagement ring to Wetzell.
TVNZ presenter Nadine Chalmers-Ross.
It seems, if the speculation is true, Chalmers-Ross will once again play bridesmaid to the blondes of TVNZ.
Spy's question is why would Street move to Breakfast? Surely the hours are more bearable on Seven Sharp?
It may be a case of better timing for the children - baby girl Mackenzie and older sister Juliet. Especially with her husband, former rugby halfback Matt France, busier than ever working as Senior Event Manager at Netball New Zealand and also a major events facilitator with ATEED.
Three weeks after the birth of her second child, Street had a distressing time when she was hit by a mystery illness, which led to her having a diseased gall bladder removed.
On Seven Sharp Street has criticised the state of care she received in the Auckland Health sector.
She told Woman's Day: "There have been some very low moments, but I'm just so pleased I'm getting better now and I can focus on my family again."
Whatever the impending seat shuffles, Seven Sharp will soon have current affairs competition at 7pm when Story launches on August 10.
Hosted by Duncan Garner and former One News political reporter Heather du Plessis-Allan, Story will screen four nights a week, Monday to Thursday.
Seven Sharp needs to have its anchors' bums firmly glued to their chairs.
Perhaps Chalmers-Ross will have the last laugh, as she is the regularly brought in as Seven Sharp's Friday night fill-in host. She could yet find her ratings are the best of everyone's.
