Samantha Armytage is set to make an explosive return to breakfast TV following months of speculation.

Channel Nine announced on Wednesday the former Sunrise host will join the Today show, filling in for Sarah Abo over the Christmas break.

The Golden Bachelor star will share the highly coveted gig with Nova radio host Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli, while Karl Stefanovic enjoys a well–deserved break.

It comes after Sam, 49, recently addressed rumours she’s set to replace Sarah on the Today show in the New Year.

The TV veteran appeared on 2GB with Ben Fordham in October, where she was asked about the growing speculation that she would be returning to breakfast TV.

‘Ben, you know how this game works — these stories get planted, leaked,’ she began, before revealing that she had bumped into Sarah and comforted her in the wake of the headlines.

Samantha Armytage (pictured) has been announced as a fill–in host for Sarah Abo on the Today Show over the Christmas break

‘Sarah’s wonderful… I saw her at Upfronts – at Nine Upfronts – the other night.

‘We gave each other a hug and I said, “Are you okay?”

‘She’s good. Sarah and Karl are fantastic,’ Sam added of the current Today line-up.

She then stood her ground, revealing that The Golden Bachelor was where her head is right now.

‘You know how it goes. People talk. But I am very happy in prime time. Golden Bachelor is where it’s at for me so I’m quite content with my little lot in life,’ she asserted.

Sarah and Karl put on a united front as they arrived at the Nine Upfronts in October.

The event, which is the network’s night of nights and sets the tone for the following year, was overshadowed by reports that Sarah could soon be ousted from the breakfast program — and replaced by Sam.

Karl, 51, was clearly eager to show his support for Sarah, 39, as he placed a reassuring hand on her waist as they made their way inside.

It comes after Sam, 49, recently addressed rumours she’s set to replace Sarah on the Today show in the New Year. (Pictured: Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo)

The TV veteran appeared on 2GB with Ben Fordham in October, where she was asked about the growing speculation that she would be returning to breakfast TV

The two walked in stride along the footpath before embracing briefly outside the entrance of the event.

Sarah draped her arm over Karl’s shoulder, and he responded by placing a hand on her waist before they parted again.

The small gesture was a show of unity between the pair, whose on-screen partnership is under threat, according to new claims.

Meanwhile, a Nine insider told Daily Mail some staff members were ‘terrified’ of Sam joining the breakfast show line-up — and that Sarah was fuming at how the network has handled the situation.

According to a senior TV insider, Nine was battling an in–house divide, with some staff members hopeful that Samantha would increase the breakfast show’s audience against Seven, while others feared she might be difficult to work with behind the scenes.

‘There’s a big team split at Nine,’ the source said. ‘Junior staff on Today are terrified to work for Sam because of her reputation for being a bit difficult at Sunrise.

‘The more senior people get it. They think that she will bring in new audience… and Today needs it.

‘But they’re also concerned that Sam and Karl will blow each other up with their egos.’