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Karl Stefanovic returned to the spotlight on the Logies red carpet.Credit:AAP

“I think I was struggling towards the end of last year. It wasn’t a great surprise to me - in fact,it was a relief in many ways that I was taken off theToday show,because I just wasn’t at my best. And you can’t be doing that show unless you are at the top of your game.”

Later this year,Stefanovic will host a new season ofThis Time Next Year on Nine,the reality program that follows ordinary people who attempt to transform their lives over 12 months.

In December,Nine,the owner of this masthead,removed Stefanovic fromToday after months of negative publicity about his divorce from Cassandra Thorburn - and his subsequent marriage to Jasmine Yarbrough - threatened to overshadow the program.

Stefanovic said the “unwarranted attention” had taken its toll.

Stefanovic admits he wasn't at his best in the months leading up to his departure from Today.Credit:Nine

“I was cooked … I needed to have a rest. You can’t be doing[breakfast television] unless you are at the top of your game.

“You’ve got to be sharp,witty,funny … and to be honest,towards the end of last year,I wasn’t[like that].”

Stefanovic said he remains proud of his time onToday.

When he joined,in 2005,the program was being trounced by Seven rivalSunrise.

Deb Knight and Georgie Gardner are trailing behind rival show Sunrise.Credit:Nine

In 2016,he and former co-host Lisa Wilkinson won more metropolitan ratings weeks thanSunrise - thoughSunrise finished the year with a substantially larger national audience,including regional viewers.

CurrentToday hosts Georgie Gardner and Deb Knight often average fewer than 200,000 city viewers,losing toSunrise.

He admits his private life,including his lavish wedding with Jasmine Yarbrough,threatened to overshadow the show.

Nine says the pair need time to build an audience - pointing out that Stefanovic and Wilkinson took almost a decade to catch up toSunrise.

“I needed to get away,and Nine made the decision,” Stefanovic told Maddern.

“After a month of not getting up at 3.30 in the morning,I saw things a lot clearer. I was able to spend time with Jasmine,away from that spotlight,and that for me was the most important thing.

“It allowed me to rest,it allowed me to think about life in a much clearer way,and[ensure] when I do come back,I’m OK. And I think for a while,I wasn’t sure if I was,to be honest.

“But now,I’ve had that rest …[it was] an amazing rejuvenation process.”

This break,he added,made him a better interview onThis Time Next Year.

“It allowed me to actually listen and concentrate and be empathetic,” Stefanovic said.

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