Speculation mounts Carrie Bickmore quit The Project to join Channel Nine’s Today show

Carrie Bickmore’s shock exit from The Project sparks speculation she will jump networks to join Karl Stefanovic on Today – while Ally Langdon moves to ACA.

Within minutes of Carrie Bickmore announcing her departure from The Project, the rumour mill went into overdrive.

Industry executives have suggested Bickmore could jump networks completely with suggestions the 41-year-old may join Karl Stefanovic hosting Nine’s Today breakfast show in 2023.

Stefanovic’s current co-host, Ally Langdon, is a top contender to take on the coveted gig at the helm of A Current Affair following the announcement Tracy Grimshaw is stepping down.

“Whatever happens, it will be a very different TV landscape in 2023,” one executive noted. “Nine needs to do something with Today as ratings can’t continue as they have. It is crunch time. Carrie is very well liked, the question really is whether she would take the job.”

Carrie Bickmore's, left, announcement she is leaving Channel 10's The Project has sparked speculation about the Channel 9 Today show line-up of Karl Stefanovic, centre, and Ally Langdon. Pictures: Supplied

Bickmore is based in Melbourne with her partner and children.

Joining Today would require the family to uproot and move to Sydney, where the show is shot.

Carrie Bickmore reveals on air she is quitting The Project. Picture: Supplied

Another executive noted Bickmore’s announcement left the door open for another gig on television.

“It was a bit odd … seemed cryptic,” the insider said. “But if she is going – why would ten keep her on air?”

Bickmore fought back tears as she announced her departure from The Project on Tuesday night.

One of the show’s original hosts, Bickmore dropped the bombshell news at the end of Tuesday’s night’s program.

Some say Today co-host Allison Langdon would move to fill the ACA hosting gig left vacant by Tracy Grimshaw. Picture: AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi

Her departure comes after 13 years with the Channel 10 program she established with Charlie Pickering.

“I have some news I wanted to share tonight that after 13 years at The Project desk I have made the tough decision to finish up hosting the show at the end of the year,” she said.

“It’s been the hardest decision of my professional life but it’s time for a new challenge and my next chapter. I am going to miss my best mates on the desk, the job itself which is so incredibly fulfilling and our wonderful viewers so much.

“The show has become a second home to me and I couldn’t be more thankful to everyone involved in it. I started the show when Ollie was one and he is now 15, which is crazy.

“I look forward to more family dinners and watching the show with my PJ’s on and a wine in hand. I’ll say more to the amazing people I work with when it’s time to say my final goodbye … but for now I will enjoy every show I have left til the end of the year.

Peter Helliar, Waleed Aly and Carrie Bickmore from The Project.

“I just want to say thank you, it has been an incredible privilege.”

An emotional Bickmore said the easy decision would be to stay, but the time was right for her and her young family.

“I want to find out who I am without this show,” she said.

“This show is so much in my DNA, I don’t know who I am without it. I want to go to more piano practices and cricket training sessions. I know it’s time, I know it’s right.

“I’m not leaving TV, my son sent me a message saying ‘I want to see my retirement’ — honey I’m not retiring. I’m going to move onto something different which I do not know what that is yet.”

Bickmore, who also co-hosts a radio program on FOX FM with Tommy Little, stepped away from The Project earlier this year to spend three months in Europe.

Co-host Peter Helliar paid tribute to Bickmore and her contribution to The Project.

“We’re still getting our heads around it and we don’t know what the future’s like. You are the soul of this show, the captain of this show,” Helliar said.

Paramount ANZ, the media and entertainment entity behind Channel 10, also released a statement in the wake of Bickmore’s announcement.

“Carrie Bickmore is synonymous with The Project, having graced our screens and won our hearts during the premiere episode on July 20, 2009,” executive vice president and chief content officer Beverley McGarvey said.

“I know this has been a very difficult decision for Carrie, and although we are all very sad that she will no longer be on The Project we fully respect her decision and wish her nothing but the best for her next adventure.”

Bickmore’s final appearance on The Project is slated for Wednesday, November 30.

Originally published as Speculation mounts Carrie Bickmore quit The Project to join Channel Nine’s Today show