Today presenter shares joyful surprise live on air
Channel Nine sports presenter Danika Mason has announced she is expecting her first child with fiancé and former NRL player Liam Knight, sharing the heartwarming news live on Today.
The Logie Award nominee surprised viewers on Wednesday morning by revealing that the couple are preparing to welcome a baby girl later this year.
Joined by colleagues Sarah Abo, Tom Steinfort, Richard Wilkins and Jayne Azzopardi, Mason was congratulated on air as the Today team celebrated the special announcement with a cake.
Speaking directly to viewers, Mason said she wanted the show’s audience to be among the first to hear the news before it spread elsewhere.
The much-loved sports reporter also joked that Today was experiencing a “little baby boom”, with co-host Sarah Abo also expecting.
Baby girl due in December
Mason confirmed the couple are expecting a daughter, who is due in December.
She admitted the early months of pregnancy had been challenging but revealed she is now feeling much better after overcoming morning sickness.
The Nine star shared that Liam Knight is thrilled about becoming a father and is especially excited to welcome a little girl into the family.
She also thanked her colleagues for supporting her throughout the first trimester, saying everyone at Nine had been incredibly understanding while she navigated the more difficult weeks of pregnancy.
Adding a light-hearted touch, Mason revealed one of her earliest pregnancy clues was an overwhelming craving for chicken schnitzels, joking it was all she could think about.
Sweet Instagram announcement delights fans
Shortly after revealing the news on television, Mason shared the announcement on Instagram.
The post featured the couple’s dog wearing a bib reading “Promoted to Big Brother” while sitting beside ultrasound images, along with a photo of her positive pregnancy test.
Friends, fellow journalists and sporting identities quickly flooded the comments with congratulatory messages, including several well-known figures from the NRL and Australian television.
A whirlwind romance after finding love again
Mason and Knight first went public with their relationship in mid-2024 following months of speculation.
The pair gradually shared more of their romance on social media before announcing their engagement during a holiday in Europe later that year.
Knight proposed on a beach in Sardinia, Italy, with Mason later sharing the happy moment online alongside the simple caption: “Some exciting news.”
The engagement came after Mason’s highly publicised split from former fiancé Todd Liubinskas, with the television presenter later explaining the relationship ended following a breakdown in trust.
Long-distance love makes relationship even stronger
The couple have continued their relationship despite periods of living in different countries after Knight signed with English rugby league club Hull FC.
Whenever their schedules allowed, the pair reunited for holidays and overseas trips, strengthening their relationship despite the distance.
Knight has since returned to Australia, where he is now playing rugby league in regional New South Wales.
The proposal story fans couldn’t stop talking about
Following their engagement, Mason revealed there was an unexpected twist behind Knight’s carefully planned proposal.
She joked on Today that her engagement ring was slightly too large, forcing her to wear it on a different finger until it could be resized.
She also shared the lengths Knight went to in order to keep the proposal a surprise.
According to Mason, the former NRL star even swam more than 100 metres after dropping her off from a small boat, determined to hide the ring before getting down on one knee.
Looking back, she laughed that his heart was already racing before he even asked the life-changing question.
A new chapter begins
Now, less than a year after celebrating their engagement, Mason and Knight are preparing for another unforgettable milestone as they get ready to welcome their daughter.
For one of Australia’s most recognisable sports presenters, the coming months promise to be busier than any NRL off-season—but by her own admission, she wouldn’t have it any other way.
