Gifford to host ‘Today’ at 10

Kathie Lee Gifford is returning to morning television next week as co-host of the 10 a.m. hour of the “Today” show with Hoda Kotb, NBC announced Monday.

The arrival of Gifford, who spent 15 years co-hosting “Live With Regis and Kathie Lee” before departing in 2000, will allow the show to redeploy news anchors Ann Curry and Natalie Morales to other duties on the morning program.

Both Curry and Morales had been named co-anchors of the fourth hour of the show with Kotb when “Today” extended the program in September.

NBC is hoping that Gifford -- who executive producer Jim Bell dubbed “a morning television icon” -- will help persuade more viewers to stick around for the show’s 10 a.m. hour, which has drawn criticism for its soft focus.

-- Matea Gold