In an industry where the spotlight often shines on the latest scoop or celebrity gossip, it's refreshing to see a seasoned journalist like Deborah Knight open up about personal challenges and offer genuine support for her colleagues.

The 51-year-old journalist, who has become a familiar face to many Australians through her work on Nine's Today and her current role as host of Nine radio's Money News, recently shared her thoughts, not only about her successor on A Current Affair, but also about her own health scares.


Knight, who stepped in for Ally Langdon on A Current Affair last summer, was met with an outpouring of support from viewers, many of whom expressed their desire to see her take on the role permanently.

Despite this, Knight has nothing but praise for Langdon, who took over after the legendary Tracy Grimshaw stepped down.

‘I think she's brilliant. It's huge shoes to fill, stepping into that role after Tracy Grimshaw,’ Knight remarked.

‘Ally’s been fantastic. She's resonated hugely with the audience and the show's going from strength to strength.’


Knight also opened up about her fond memories of working as a newsreader and presenter with Karl Stefanovic, her former co-host on Today.

'Who wouldn't miss Karl?! I'm still mates with everyone on Today. Karl's a good friend of mine. I regularly catch up with those guys,' she shared.


Speaking of early starts, according to Knight, one aspect she does not miss from morning television is the early start times.

‘I called the alarm time "stupid o'clock". That was my official terminology for the alarm. It had either a three or four in front of it, depending on whether you were doing the early news,’ she said.

Knight has also been outspoken about raising awareness of health issues that the public often overlooks.


Beyond her career reflections, Knight also bravely discussed her recent health scare with shingles—a condition caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus—diagnosed in early 2022.

‘I presumed incorrectly that shingles was something that old people got. I'm 50, but I didn't think it was a younger person’s condition. I was quite shocked by that,' she admitted.

Almost all Australians aged 50 and above harbour the dormant virus (varicella-zoster virus) responsible for shingles due to a prior bout of chickenpox.

‘Because I had seen my GP in time, I could get treatment in a timely manner, which was really fortunate. I was lucky. If the rash had broken out closer to my eye… I mean, it can cause blindness. It's very serious,’ Knight explained.

A study conducted by GSK Australia revealed that although 62 per cent of individuals perceived the consequences of this illness as 'extremely negative', merely 14 per cent considered themselves extremely likely to face shingles during their lifetime personally.

Yet, a third of the population will encounter shingles at some stage in their lifetime.


Moreover, Knight has been vocal about the dangers of suntanning and its link to melanoma, a concern shared by many in our sun-loving nation.

She advocated a safer approach to achieving that sought-after glow, urging young people to 'get it from a bottle'.

‘We should stop glorifying the bronzed look anyway,’ she continued, while commending Nicole Kidman for her 'sun smart' measures.

‘Whenever she's home in Australia, she's always under [a] big hat in the shade protecting her skin. We should be idealising someone like her rather than the people who [are] laying out in the sun for hours on end.’


Knight's revelations shed light on the vulnerability many face when navigating health concerns.

This vulnerability extends beyond physical well-being to encompass financial security, as demonstrated by her recent experience involving a concert scam.

Such stories underscore the importance of vigilance and awareness in safeguarding one's health and finances in an increasingly complex world.
Have you had similar experiences with health scares or found yourself in a position to support a colleague stepping into big shoes? Share your stories in the comments below.