Where's Rawdon Christie? Breakfast presenter disappears from screens

Matt Gibb teams up with Nadine Chalmers-Ross on the Breakfast couch this morning. Nadine's co-host Rawdon Christie is said to be on leave. Photo/TV One

Rawdon Christie is on leave this week, just days after it was reported he is seeking legal advice over his exit from Breakfast.

Christie has been missing from the Breakfast couch this week, with Andrew Saville filling in for him on Monday, before Matt Gibb took over on Tuesday.

A TVNZ spokesperson confirmed Christie was "on leave this week" and would return next Monday.

Insiders have told the Herald that Christie's leave was not planned and presenters have been brought in at the last minute to cover for the host.

Gibb returned from Sydney to fill in for weather presenter Sam Wallace, who is in the Bahamas covering William Trubridge's record-breaking free dive attempt.

But it appears Gibb was drafted in to co-host the show, with Renee Wright brought in to cover weather.

Christie and co-host Nadine Chalmers-Ross were told their time fronting the show was up just over a week ago, after being called to a meeting with news boss John Gillespie.

The move came after months of speculation over the future of the show - initially ignited by Hilary Barry's resignation from MediaWorks in April.

It is believed Barry and Jack Tame will be announced as the new hosts of Breakfast - but they won't be on air together until next year.

It is understood Christie is seeking legal advice.

Employment lawyer Jennifer Mills told the Herald on Sunday Christie could have avenues to seek damages for humiliation, loss of dignity and injury to feelings after his public axing from Breakfast.

Christie appeared in fine spirits last week, catching up with Mark Sainsbury on Friday night, who also knows what it's like to be dumped by TVNZ, after his programme Close Up was cancelled in 2012.