Just three months after returning to NBC’s TODAY following a family leave prompted by her mother, Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, Savannah Guthrie is stepping away from the morning show once again. The announcement quickly sparked questions among viewers about whether her latest absence is connected to her family situation.
However, the 54-year-old journalist has now clarified that this time, her break is for a very different reason. She is travelling to Manchester, England, to film the first season of NBC’s upcoming Wordle game show, which she will host and which is executive produced by Jimmy Fallon.
Why is Savannah Guthrie Leaving TODAY Again?
Savannah Guthrie confirmed during the July 16 edition of the TODAY show that she will be away from the programme for the next few weeks to film the first season of NBC’s Wordle game show.
Speaking to her co-hosts, she said, “I’m headed over to shoot Wordle over the next few weeks.”
She added, “We’re going to shoot the whole season, and we’re super excited. Cannot wait for everyone to see it.”
According to Guthrie, filming will take place over several weeks, and the show is expected to premiere in the new year.
Is Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance the Reason Behind Her Leave?
No. Although Savannah Guthrie previously took time off from TODAY to support her family after her mother, Nancy Guthrie, disappeared, her current absence is not related to that situation.
Instead, she is leaving temporarily to fulfil her hosting duties for NBC’s new television adaptation of the popular New York Times word puzzle Wordle.
Earlier this year, Guthrie revealed that filming had originally been scheduled to begin months ago but was postponed after her family emergency.
She thanked NBC and the production team for supporting her during that difficult period, saying, “I just want to say a quick thank you to NBC and to Jimmy and his production company and The New York Times and the studio, Universal. Because when everything happened with me and my family, they just stopped everything and said, ‘We’ll wait for you’.”
She continued, “And Hollywood is a really tough business, as you know, and I didn’t expect that, and I just want to say thank you, it means so much to me.”
What Is NBC’s Wordle Game Show?
NBC’s Wordle is a television adaptation of the hugely successful online word game owned by The New York Times.
The half-hour game show has reportedly been in development for more than two years and is executive-produced by Jimmy Fallon. The production team filmed a pilot last year before receiving a full-season order.
The programme will feature contestants competing in word-based challenges inspired by the globally popular puzzle game.
What Did Savannah Guthrie Say About Returning to Work?
In an interview with The New York Times, Guthrie admitted that balancing work while dealing with personal heartbreak has not been easy.
She said, “Everything is strange right now.”
She added, “It’s strange to get up and do the ‘Today’ show every day, and it’s strange to say that I’m going to do a game show when your heart is broken.”
Despite the emotional challenges, she said she remains determined to keep moving forward.
“Nothing about that has changed, and it’s not easy, but I’m determined to put one foot in front of the other.”
Calling the new project a positive step, she concluded, “And this is a joyous thing.”
Where is Nancy Guthrie?
The whereabouts of Nancy Guthrie, Savannah Guthrie’s mother, remain unknown. She was reported missing earlier this year, prompting Savannah to take an extended leave from NBC’s TODAY show to be with her family during the search. Authorities have not released any major updates on the case, and Savannah has largely kept details private while asking for support and understanding. Although her mother’s disappearance led to her previous absence from the show, Savannah has confirmed that her current break is unrelated and is solely to film NBC’s upcoming Wordle game show.
When Will Savannah Guthrie Return to TODAY?
NBC has not announced an official return date for Savannah Guthrie. However, because the production team plans to film the entire first season of Wordle over the next few weeks, viewers can expect her to return after filming concludes.
In the meantime, the TODAY show will continue with its regular team of anchors while Guthrie works on her newest television project.
