Network Ten axes The Project after 16 years on air

The axe has fallen on Melbourne-filmed The Project, with Network Ten set to replace it with a Sydney-based program in a prime-time scheduling shake up.

The Project will air its final episode on June 27.

Network 10 has axed its long time news and current affairs show The Project.

Staff were called into an urgent meeting in Melbourne on Monday morning where they were told of the show’s fate, after weeks of speculation that the program was on the chopping block.

The Project presenters on Monday night promised “to go out with a bang”, thanking on-air everybody who had helped make the show for 16 years.

The show’s axing is a blow for local Melbourne-made television, with up to 60 employees and talent set to lose their jobs.

It’s understood a replacement program out of the Sydney newsroom in development, Behind the Lines – A 10 News First Investigation, will replace the show as early as next month.

Speculation had been growing in recent weeks the show, which first aired in 2009, faced the axe following a slump in ratings.

The Project hosts Waleed Aly and Sarah Harris. Picture: Network 10

Shortly after the meeting helmed by Network president Beverley McGarvey, The Project released a post on X, thanking its viewers and all those who had watched and supported the show: “Australia’s destination for the news when you want a little bit of a giggle.

“After 4500 episodes The Project will finish up on June 27. We have loved every second but all good things come to an end.”

Former TV host McManus replied “thank you team”, while comedian and former panellist said “lots of love to my mates.”

Waleed Aly, who has been with The Project for a decade since joining in 2015, said the show presented news differently.

“The Project kicked down the door of how news could be done,” Aly said.

Host Sarah Harris, dubbed “our supportive Queen” spoke of her enjoyment working on the show since replacing former co-host Carrie Bickmore in 2023.

“I’ve had a blast (but) it’s time for me to take a breath and spend some time with my boys … keep an eye out for my OnlyFans page,” Harris joked.

The on-air team, consisting of Aly, Harris, Sam Taunton and Steve Price will address the end of an era on Monday night’s show

For nearly 16 years, The Project has been Australia’s destination for the news when you want a little bit of a giggle.

Well, we have loved every second but all good things come to an end and so are we on June 27.

To everyone who has watched, supported, donated money to help… pic.twitter.com/3icPOSjgPV

— The Project (@theprojecttv) June 9, 2025

Once a mainstay of Ten’s news format pitched to a younger audience, it made household names out of co-hosts from Waleed Aly, Charlie Pickering and Carrie Bickmore.

A Network 10 statement confirmed the show would air its final episode later this month.

“Network 10 will be introducing a revised early evening program schedule later this month.

“At the core of the changes will be an expansion of Network 10’s successful news coverage, with the launch of a new national one-hour 6pm news, current affairs and insights program six days a week to complement 10’s one-hour 5pm local news bulletins.

“This reflects the successful growth in audiences to Network 10 local news bulletins and coverage. Our focus continues to be on serving our free-to-air audiences with more of the content they are increasingly watching.

“As a result of the changes, The Project will air for the last time on Friday, June 27, ending an incredible run of almost 16 years and more than 4,500 episodes.

“The recipient of 11 TV WEEK Logie awards and one Walkley Award, The Project led the way with thought-provoking and unique conversations on prime time television covering a myriad of topics including marriage equality, animal welfare, disability awareness, NDIS, and domestic and family violence.

“The show has successfully balanced humour and heart with poignant discussions about current affairs and celebrity interviews that had the whole country, and sometimes the world, talking.”

Opening the show on Monday night co-hosts Aly and Harris said they had some “big news” to announce.

“After 16 years and nearly four-and-a-half thousand episodes, The Project will very soon be no more. It’s huge,” Aly said.

Harris said she first appeared on the news and nightly talk show as “a Dave Hughes funny.”

“I fell over during a media scrum outside court,” Harris laughed.

“But I am so grateful that I got to sit on this desk and play TV with all of you. It’s been such a fun thing to do.

“It’s the people who make a show and The Project isn’t just the people on this desk. It’s the cast and crew behind the scenes. They are the real stars. The producers, the editors, the cameramen and women, the comedy writers, the floor crew, the people in the control room, the director, the hair and makeup team, all of them who work their guts out every single night, six nights a week to get up here.

“Truly amazing.

Picture: Supplied

“We don’t just mean now,” Aly continued.

“People who worked on this show over 16 years is an incredibly long period of time for a TV show. It’s a huge success to pull that off. And so many people have contributed to that. They all do a fantastic job.

“A huge shout-out to our viewers, though, as well.

“This isn’t goodbye. We’ll see you again a little bit more over the next few weeks, but I know, and everyone who’s worked on the show knows, that these are the best viewers in Australia.

“It’s been frankly a privilege,” Aly said.

Guest panellist Steve Price who has been with the show since just a year after it first began, said he started as a 55-year-old man, and was now 70.

“How an old, fat, white guy like me could survive,” Price laughed.

Harris promised the show would end on a high over the next few weeks.

“We promise to go out with a bang.”

Originally published as Network Ten axes The Project after 16 years on air