After it unceremoniously sent Meredith Shaw and Sid Seixeiro packing last month, Breakfast Television revealed its new hosts and brand-new studio Monday morning.
BT personality Devo Brown thanked viewers for their patience before first introducing Tim Bolen, who left his position as CHCH Morning Live co-host in January.
Bolen then announced that Dina Pugliese — who helped lead the broadcast for 16 years before departing in 2023— will return as his co-host on the long-running morning program, which airs coast-to-coast.
“I was so burnt out,” Pugliese said, addressing her decision to leave two years ago. “I had a lot of lonely moments, in the last two years; a lot of scary moments. I got to be there for family, in big ways and small … I was grateful that I had that time to rest.”
Pugliese, who emerged on the set from a giant moose costume, said she used her time away to focus her efforts on The Care Principle, her clean beauty line, and travel with her husband, Alex. She said when people would see her out in public, they would ask her if she would ever go back to TV.
“It was a lot of resting and walking and cooking and cleaning and sleeping and then, repeat,” she said.
Pugliese had offers from other stations in Canada and the U.S., but was convinced to return after a meeting with BT’s executive producer, Claire Adams.
“She was like, ‘If you’re ready, I would love to have you back on duty and bringing joy back into the mornings for us the way you did.’ And I just sobbed,” she recalled.
A stint emceeing an event for caregivers convinced Pugliese that she still had more to offer people at home.
Following conversations with her husband and other family members, Pugliese said she was “ready and prepared and rested and recovered enough to get back to it.”
“More than ever, people are looking for comfort, optimism, a uniquely Canadian perspective, and a sense of joy in the mornings – and no one delivers that better than Dina and Tim,” Adams said in a statement. “Dina is one of the most beloved morning show personalities in the country and her return feels like welcoming back a best friend. Tim’s warmth, quick wit, and natural connection with audiences make him the perfect complement to Dina’s vibrant energy.”
“You will find NO ONE more surprised about this news than me! It’s crazy how life works sometimes,” Pugliese said after the news was announced live on-air. “After two years of rest and recharging, it feels like I’m stepping back into a pair of comfy slippers. It’s such a gift to be able to return to what made my life meaningful for almost 20 years – connecting, sharing, and laughing with YOU, our BT viewers. I can’t wait to continue making mornings brighter together!”
Pugliese first joined Breakfast Television back in 2006 alongside co-host Kevin Frankish.
After some fans reacted angrily to the news of Seixeiro and Shaw’s departure, response online was mostly positive following the news of Pugliese’s return.
“THIS IS THE BEST NEWS EVER!!!! WELCOME BACK!!!!” one watcher wrote on X, with another one adding, “Oh my gosh, I had happy tears and laughter when the BT moose revealed itself. Your kindness and puns have been missed. Thank you for coming back.”
Bolen, who started his career at Rogers TV as host of community shows such as Structures and Toronto Living, said that until he met Pugliese he looked up to her from afar.
“For over 35 years, BT has set the benchmark for morning television. Many incredible hosts have paved the way, and I feel truly privileged to add my name alongside them. But the real pinch-me moment? Getting to co-host with the best in her triumphant return! I’ve admired Dina for years and from the moment we connected, the TV spark was undeniable. I know we’ll turn that into a big yellow bulb of sunshine for audiences to wake up with,” the father of three said.
In addition to hosting alongside Brown, Pugliese and Bolen will be joined by the rest of the BT morning show team, including Melanie Ng, Frank Ferragine, Caryn Ceolin, and Tammie Sutherland.
Following Seixeiro and Shaw’s ouster, a spokesperson for Rogers Sports & Media called their exit part of the show’s necessary “evolution.”
“We’re invested in Breakfast Television’s success and leadership in Canadian morning television,” a spokesperson wrote in an email. “As part of this evolution, we have parted ways with Sid Seixeiro and Meredith Shaw. We thank them for sharing their passion and energy with audiences every morning and wish them both the very best.”
In a post that was shared to X and Instagram, Shaw said she was blindsided by the news. “Not gonna lie, this is hard,” she wrote.
On Instagram, Shaw’s post generated thousands of supportive comments, including one from Pugliese, who wrote, “Meredith you are so talented and I know you are going to go on to do amazing things!”
Seixeiro, who joined BT in 2021 after taking over from Roger Petersen, also addressed his departure in a message shared with his 189,000 followers on X.
“Thanks for letting me into your homes and for being so kind. Also, thank you to @Rogers for over 13 years of support. They allowed me incredible freedom on-air and I’m grateful,” he wrote.