Lisa Wilkinson memoir: Karl Stefanovic 'thriving' following her bombshell claims

Karl Stefanovic is said to be 'thriving' after his former Today show co-host Lisa Wilkinson made a number of explosive claims about him in her upcoming memoir.

In her new book It Wasn't Meant To Be Like This - set for release on November 3 - Wilkinson, 61, alleges Karl 'gave her the cold shoulder' when she left the show and claims there was a salary disparity between the pair.

Yet despite the negative claims, a report in New Idea on Monday says that Stefanovic, 47, has 'never had so much fan mail' in light of the scandal, and allege he's even lobbying for a new role at Channel Nine because of it.

'The thing about Karl is that he thrives during these situations,' the source claims. 'It seems Lisa's long-anticipated book release may have backfired - Karl has never had so much fan mail.

'If Lisa keeps chipping away, there could be a perception that she's now gone too far, having a go at the man she shared mornings with for 11 years.'

The insider added that Karl has apparently gone to Nine bosses to 'plump up' his deal with the network, wanting to replace Ben Fordham as host on Australian Ninja Warrior.

Fordham announced he was leaving the show earlier this month to focus on his 2GB radio gig.

Channel Nine declined to comment when approached by Daily Mail Australia. 

It comes just days after Stefanovic offered a classy response when asked about Wilkinson's claims over the weekend.

'Brother, I've got too many positive and wonderful things going on in my life to talk about that stuff,' he told the Sydney Morning Herald.

'I'm very happy. In work and life,' he added. 

Wilkinson's explosive new book includes a chapter dedicated to her sacking from Channel Nine and falling out with Stefanovic over a pay dispute.

She alleges Stefanovic proposed in August 2015 they join forces to renegotiate their Nine contracts - not unlike how the cast of American sitcom Friends famously worked together to broker better deals with NBC.

But she claims he ended up ditching this idea and instead played rival networks Nine and Seven off against each other in order to secure a better deal for himself.

'Weeks later... the media became awash with stories that Stefanovic was restless at Today and looking for greener pastures – and more civilised working hours – at Channel Seven,' she wrote.

Stefanovic was soon at the centre of a bidding war between Nine and Seven that resulted in him re-signing a five-year deal with Nine worth at least $2million per year.

Wilkinson's deal was worth significantly less, about $780,000 a year, and was only for two years.

'There was no doubt about it: Karl certainly knew the art of the deal,' she wrote, adding that the resulting pay disparity between them 'was so off the charts that no-one would have believed it'.

However, this allegedly doesn't tell the full story, with News.com.au reporting this week Wilkinson had in fact earned more than Stefanovic for years when they first joined forces on Today, and it was only at the end of their partnership that the roles reversed.