Today host Karl Stefanovic avoided an awkward moment live on air when a guest brought up a Prince Harry claim about Noosa that was a little too close to home.
The coastal town was the centre of attention earlier this year after a shocking video emerged of Australian cricketing great Michael Clarke in a heated spat with girlfriend Jade Yarbrough – Stefanovic’s sister in-law – on January 10.
Stefanovic, who was on holiday with the pair and wife Jasmine, has managed to stay tight-lipped on the matter since it blew up.
However, the host was taken by surprise when an interview with a royal correspondent on Thursday took a surprise left turn.
Daily Telegraph UK associate editor Camilla Tominey was in the middle of updating the Today hosts on Prince Harry’s phone-hacking court case.
The prince alleged that his phone had been tapped while on holiday in the coastal Queensland town of Noosa.
“He basically suggested the only way a photographer or a newspaper could have found out is if (his phone) was hacked,” Tominey said.
“(But) you and I know if Prince Harry turned up in Noosa with an entourage everyone would know about it and someone would phone a local paper and the next thing the place would be swarming with photographers.”
Stefanovic’s face spread into a wide grin as he realised he was being laid a perfect set-up for a joke on his own Noosa scandal.
“You’re 100 per cent right about Noosa,” he said. “I mean everyone has got a phone there as well.”
Laughs echoed around the studio as the production team caught on and co-host Sarah Abo’s eyes lit-up before jumping in to save the day.
“Clearly, Camilla doesn’t read the Australian tabloids but anyway we’ll educate her on that one a bit later shall we?” she joked.
What was the Michael Clarke scandal?
Explosive footage first emerged in January of a shirtless Clarke being slapped across the face in Lions Park in Noosa.
“I’m f**king wrong? You’re a f**king liar,” his girlfriend at the time Ms Yarbrough screamed.
A passer-by recognised the former Australian cricketer and captured the tail end of an argument that shows Ms Yarbrough confronting him over suspicions he had cheated on her with ex-girlfriend Pip Edwards.
The night in question was January 10 when Clarke and Ms Yarbrough were holidaying on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast with Ms Yarbrough’s sister Jasmine, her husband Stefanovic and their friend, celebrity accountant Anthony Bell.
So intense was the spat that Queensland Police fined the unhappy couple.
Clarke and Ms Edwards reportedly broke up in February 2021, but the video suggested Clarke had recently texted the designer of activewear brand PE Nation to come to India with him.
“I can see everything. You called her,” Ms Yarbrough said between shoving Clarke.
“Baby you’re wrong, you’re wrong,” Clarke replied, saying he had been with Mr Bell that evening.
Stefanovic was noticeably silent on the matter when the Today broadcast went live the day after the video was leaked despite the story dominating headlines.