Cassandra Thorburn gives her first interview since her split from Karl Stefanovic.

Cassandra Thorburn has given her first interview since splitting from Today Show presenter Karl Stefanovic earlier this year.

Speaking to Fairfax, the former journalist would not comment on her separation from Stefanovic but said she was feeling “good”, before adding: “It was a shock.”

The interview comes in the wake of a Facebook post the 44-year-old wrote, which spurned an opinion piece about why women should never give up their jobs following childbirth. Thorburn responded to the opinion editorial with an open letter addressed to working mums and published on PopSugar.

The mother of three said she believed the criticism from those outside her life was unjust.

“I don’t think I deserve the criticism,” she said.

The media initially circled around the news of the separation but soon focused on her as a former professional and current stay-at-home mum.

Thorburn refuted the idea full-time motherhood indicated any lack of intelligence.

"Just because I am a stay-at-home mum now it doesn't mean that I don't have a brain," she said.

The mother-of-three went on to defend the post she made to Facebook where she recognised the part she played in the Today Show's recent ratings success.

"I didn't think there was anything wrong with saying the Today Show has won the ratings and I am going to have a drink to celebrate the contribution I made," she said.

"There was no malice intended. This is the father of my three children ... My husband has always acknowledged me. I don't need acknowledgement from anyone else."

The post shared on Facebook explained the level of impact the show had brought upon the couple's family.

“Apparently Today Show finally won a year,” Thorburn wrote.

“This took a huge toll on my family and I, and I’m congratulating myself today for all the effort that went into making that (the ratings) happen.”

Thorburn explained to Fairfax how significant her contribution to the show had been over the years.

"It's been 11 years of my life, so how is it so wrong that I want to celebrate something that I did and had an involvement with for a long time?" she said.

Featured image: Getty