NBC bosses are seeking to ensure that Savannah Guthrie remains on the Today show following Hoda Kotb‘s shock decision to quit, as they desperately want to avoid losing another big name.

Hoda stunned viewers with her surprise announcement on Thursday, explaining that turning 60 had been a ‘monumental moment’ that made her realize it was time to ‘try something new’ after 17 years at the helm of the flagship show.

Soon after, viewers erupted into a heated debate on social media over who should replace Hoda when she officially departs in early 2025.

Now insiders have revealed to DailyMail.com that two anchors are already clear favorites for the job as producers do their best to avoid ‘overhauling everything’ during this period of change.

‘Savannah’s contract is coming up next year and they want to keep her and will be doing anything they can to continue their relationship with Savannah as a means of not overhauling everything,’ the source explained.

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NBC bosses are desperately seeking to ensure that Savannah Guthrie remains on the Today show following Hoda Kotb’s departure, insiders have told DailyMail.com

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 Hoda not only serves as one of the main anchors on Today, alongside Savannah, but she also cohosts her own segment with Jenna Bush Hager, called Today with Hoda and Jenna

‘The replacement will be from people who are already there rather than paying an outsider tons of money to sit with Savannah.’

Savannah reportedly signed a $7million a-year contract with Today which was increased to $8million and then again to an undisclosed amount in 2020 after bosses were impressed with her moderating of a town hall with President Trump.

Hoda – who reportedly earns an estimated $8 million a-year on the show – not only serves as one of the main anchors alongside Savannah, but she also cohosts her own segment with Jenna Bush Hager, called Today with Hoda and Jenna.

The insider noted that the final decision about replacements will ultimately be up to the viewing public, depending on which presenter the audience is more drawn towards.

‘Craig Melvin and Laura Jarrett are both on top of the list to be the heir apparent at this time,’ the source continued.

‘NBC is looking to place one of them in Hoda’s position, whomever the audience gravitates to more will be the most likely replacement.

‘The anchors would all love the opportunity to take Hoda’s spot, Sheinelle Jones would be interested, but honestly everyone is championing for Laura or Craig.’

The insider added that bosses are willing to wait as long as it takes to make an official announcement and added that Hoda’s replacement on Today with Hoda and Jenna is more open.

Craig Melvin and Laura Jarrett are already clear favorites for the job, the source said

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Insiders explained that producers are keen to avoid losing another big name from the popular morning program, as Savannah prepares to begin contract renewal talks

‘There is more leeway with Jenna and who will join her after Hoda leaves,’ she said.

‘It could be a revolving door until someone sticks, the job to join Jenna is going to be a work in progress and could be anyone at this point.’

Craig, 45, first joined MSNBC as a daytime anchor in 2011, and within his first year he covered a slew of events including the Republican and Democratic national conventions and election night.

‘It could be a revolving door until someone sticks, the job to join Jenna is going to be a work in progress and could be anyone at this point.’

He began cohosting Today’s Third Hour in 2018, and soon after news hit that Hoda was leaving, fans were calling for him to replace her.

Before her job at Today, Laura, 40 – the daughter of former Obama administration official Valerie Jarrett – worked at CNN, where she cohosted the show Early Start, which has since been renamed, CNN This Morning.

She joined NBC in 2022 and is best known for breaking the news about former President Donald Trump’s guilty falsifying business records verdict back in May.

Hoda was motivated to stand down by her two young daughters, but her struggle to find the same chemistry with Jenna as she had with former cohost Kathie Lee Gifford, 71, was also a driving factor.