Viewers of Toronto’s Breakfast Television on CityTV woke up to surprising news on Monday morning, as co-hosts Sid Seixeiro and Meredith Shaw were no longer with the show. This announcement was delivered by City’s Devo Brown during the morning segment. "Thank you for waking up with BT," Brown said. "Wanted to share some news with all of you at home. Our colleagues Sid and Meredith are no longer with BT. They brought us plenty of great conversations, laughs, and unforgettable moments. We’re grateful for everything they shared with all of us. We wish them the very best in what’s next. We know change is never easy, but for over 35 years, Breakfast Television has grown and evolved to bring you the best to start your day. So stay tuned, we have some exciting plans in the works to share with you very, very soon."
Seixeiro, known for his previous role at Rogers Sportsnet, co-hosted the popular "Tim & Sid" show with Tim Micallef from 2011 until 2021, before he began hosting Breakfast Television. Shaw joined the program more recently, stepping in as co-host after the departure of Dina Pugliese earlier this year. The sadness surrounding their exit has left many viewers surprised, particularly since Shaw began her career as a singer-songwriter before transitioning to media, becoming part of the television fabric through various Bell Media programs.
"We’re invested in Breakfast Television’s success and leadership in Canadian morning television, and we’ll announce exciting new plans in the coming weeks. We thank them for sharing their passion and energy with audiences every morning and wish them both the very best," said a spokesperson for Rogers Sports & Media, when reached by Daily Hive for comments. They have confirmed their decision to part ways with both Seixeiro and Shaw as part of the show's evolution, yet did not disclose specific reasoning behind this sudden departure.
Seixeiro himself confirmed through a heartfelt post on X, formerly known as Twitter, thanking Rogers for the incredible freedom they have allowed him on air throughout his career. "Hey guys. Confirming my last day at Breakfast Television was this past Friday. Thanks for letting me enter your homes and for being so kind. Also, thank you to Rogers for over 13 years of support... It was an absolute honour getting to work with Meredith Shaw," he wrote.
Shaw echoed similar sentiments on her Instagram, noting her emotional struggle with the change. She thanked viewers and affirmed her love for the community they built around Breakfast Television. "Not gonna lie, this is hard. Deep breath. Thank you for welcoming me... Thank you, Sid, for being a tremendous teammate and friend. You’re the best of the best and I love you," Shaw expressed. Her appreciation for the viewers has been immense, indicating how charmingly connected they felt to the audience. "To you, BT viewers, my gratitude has never been deepen as this new chapter begins for your favorite show. I hope I did you proud..." she added, highlighting the warmth she experienced as part of the hosting duo.
Although the exact reasons for their departure remain unclear, fans have expressed shock and disappointment over the sudden change, particularly for Seixeiro, who developed a strong following during his tenure on sports programming and his transition to morning TV. Viewers are left hopeful for what’s next for the long-standing franchise, which has successfully navigated changes over the decades.
With Breakfast Television adopting new plans as indicated by the network, many are curious to see how the show will evolve moving forward and what new talents will step up to fill the void left by Seixeiro and Shaw. Their absence will certainly be felt by the loyal viewers who had come to wake up with their morning banter and engaging segments. Both hosts have carried the essence of Breakfast Television and leaving them raises questions on the future direction the program will take.
While change can be difficult, there remains optimism surrounding Citytv’s Breakfast Television as the production team looks to innovate and capture the spirit of morning programming. The doors to new opportunities might be opening, potentially breathing fresh air and excitement as soon-to-be-announced talents join the long-standing show. Fans of Sid Seixeiro and Meredith Shaw can only hope to see their favorite hosts flourish as they pen the next chapters of their respective careers beyond Breakfast Television.