Carrie Bickmore replacement on The Project revealed

Network 10 has revealed who will fill in for Carrie Bickmore when she takes time off-air to take her family to Europe.

Chrissie Swan and Georgie Tunny will keep Carrie Bickmore’s seat warm when The Project host takes a two-month break.

Bickmore made the surprise announcement on Tuesday night’s show, revealing she would be on an extended break from next month to enjoy a family adventure in Europe.

“Chrissie and Georgie are well known and loved by Project viewers and I am delighted to see them both take larger hosting roles,” The Project executive producer Chris Bendall said.

“We have a lot of exciting plans for the show this year. Carrie’s seat is in safe hands until she returns mid-year with Chrissie and Georgie joining Lisa (Wilkinson) who will continue to deliver outstanding feature stories from around the country alongside her existing hosting duties.”

Chrissy Swan.

Georgie Tunny.

Swan and Tunny will be at the helm of the show on alternate nights alongside regulars Waleed Aly and Peter Helliar.

Wilkinson and Hamish McDonald will continue on The Sunday Project.

“Friends of The Project, Chrissie Swan and Georgie Tunny, will join hosts Lisa Wilkinson, Waleed Aly, Peter Helliar, Hamish Macdonald and Tommy Little while Carrie Bickmore and her family go on a well-deserved adventure,” a Ten statement read.

Nova radio host Swan has been a long time regular panel guests while star on the rise Tunny is newer to the fold.

Bickmore is the only original presenter of The Project, which launched in 2009, and she will return after her break mid-year.

She and partner Chris Walker will leave their home in Melbourne with son Ollie, 15, and daughters, Evie, 7, and three-year-old Adelaide to spend time in Europe.

Of the break, she said: “In April I’m going to be taking a few months off The Project desk. Chris and I and the kids are heading off on a family adventure together,” the visibly emotional presenter told viewers.

“We’ve been wanting to do it for a while but … lots of reasons, timing hasn’t been right, but we figure it’s never going to be the perfect time to go. It’s something we really want to do before my son Ollie starts his final years at school so we’re going to do Term 2 in the UK. So I will be off for a couple of months.”

On Wednesday, speculation was rife about who would fill Bickmore’s coveted spot on The Project panel alongside Waleed Aly.

Confidential heard Channel 10’s “highest paid” star Lisa Wilkinson was considered for the position, which would have required her taking on extra days.

It comes after Channel 10 previously denied there would be any panel changes this year.

Lisa Wilkinson has reportedly been considered to replace Carrie Bickmore on The Project. Also pictured Waleed Aly and Pete Helliar. Supplied: Ten

On Wednesday former Channel 10 executive producer, Rob McKnight, said Studio 10’s Sarah Harris would be a better option over Wilkinson.

“As far as replacement hosts go, Lisa Wilkinson certainly brings headlines and has done some compelling interviews but will she bring the much-needed ratings the show needs?” he said.

“If I were 10 I would put Sarah Harris in the role. She’s wasted in the morning and is capable of so much more than what she is currently doing.

“If 10 don’t take this opportunity to move her into Carrie’s chair they might find they lose her when her contract comes up at the end of the year.”

.@BickmoreCarrie has some news & we couldn't be happier or prouder. This year, Carrie and her family are heading overseas to discover what the world has to offer, so she's taking some well deserved time off to create some more amazing memories.#TheProjectTVpic.twitter.com/Ed4oASccsK

— The Project (@theprojecttv) March 15, 2022

Bickmore, 41, announced her departure on Tuesday night’s show, revealing she will be off the show in April “for a few months” as her family temporarily relocates to the UK.

“In April I’m going to be taking a few months off The Project desk. Chris (Walker) and I and the kids are heading off on a family adventure together,” the visibly emotional presenter said.

“We’ve been wanting to do it for a while but … lots of reasons, timing hasn’t been right, but we figure it’s never going to be the perfect time to go.

“It’s something we really want to do before my son Ollie starts his final years at school so we’re going to do term two in the UK. So I will be off for a couple of months.”

Bickmore is the show’s only original presenter after joining in 2009.

Waleed Aly, Carrie Bickmore, Peter Helliar at the Logies Awards in 2016. Picture: Jason Edwards

Waleed Aly and Carrie Bickmore on the set of The Project.

McKnight said while Bickmore’s absence will be short-term, anything is possible.

“I know Channel 10 have been dreading the day Carrie Bickmore would leave The Project,” he said.

“For a long time it was believed she would jump for a radio career where the money is much better, so Carrie deciding to leave for the UK would have come as a surprise.

“While I think she has all the best intentions in the world of coming back, things can change very quickly. For her it’s perfect — she has THE PROJECT as a backup plan if things don’t work out in the UK.”

Bickmore is the only original presenter on the show, which first launched in 2009.

The Project, which is produced by Rove McManus’ production company Roving Enterprises, has been under media scrutiny in recent years due to its declining ratings.

On Sunday, the show drew a measly 206,000 metro viewers before climbing to 291,000 during its 7pm slot.

By comparison, Channel 9’s Married At First Sight had 1.76 million viewers at 7pm while Seven’s Dancing With The Stars: All Stars had 517,000 and ABC News at 7pm drew 577,000.

Sarah Harris co-hosts Studio 10 with Tristan McManus.

Monday’s edition of The Project saw a slight improvement with the 7pm show attracting 416,000 but it was no match for its rivals during that same slot as Nine’s A Current Affair had 745,000 viewers, ABC News had 686,000 and non-news related Home And Away drew 512,000.

The Project had more than 1 million viewers when it first launched, however figures have consistently dropped to less than half since then.

Wilkinson first joined The Project in 2018 after quitting the Today Show over a pay dispute.

Her initial deal with Channel 10 was reportedly worth $2.3 million, more than double what she was earning at the Nine Network.

Last year, she signed a “lucrative new multi-year deal” with Ten and is rumoured to be the highest paid star.

Originally published as Carrie Bickmore replacement on The Project revealed