Carrie Bickmore returns to The Project as she joins an emotional Waleed Aly and Sarah Harris to bid farewell
After 16 years on air, The Project stars poked fun at the show’s declining ratings as they bid their farewell to viewers.
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It was an emotional final episode of The Project on Channel 10 after over 16 years on-screen with surprise appearances from Carrie Bickmore and Lisa Wilkinson.
Regular hosts Waleed Aly, Sarah Harris, Sam Taunton and Georgie Tunny have bid farewell to viewers during an emotional final episode.
It was first confirmed last week that current affairs and entertainment panel program was wrapping up at the end of June, with stars including Harris and Aly leaving not only their roles on the show but also with Network 10.
According to insiders as many as 100 jobs overall will be impacted by Ten’s decision to drop the show, which is broadcast six nights a week and has production offices in both Melbourne and Sydney.
“Who's first to cry?” said Waleed as the foursome opened the show.
“I’ve come prepared for crying,” replied Taunton.
“I love in this job that you get to meet some pretty fun people, fun celebrities too,” said Harris, before clips of her viral interview with Austin Butler aired that saw the pair sharing some serious flirting energy as The Project star talked of his “piercing gaze”.
“He wouldn’t know what to do with me” teased Harris after the clip came to an end, eliciting laughter from the rest of her co-hosts.
As the gang celebrated the final hour of the show, former host Lisa Wilkinson made a surprise appearance to share her own feelings about its demise.
Wilkinson quit The Project in November 2022, but remained with Network 10 for another two years despite never returning to air.
“I’m so sorry I can’t be with you tonight but I wanted to pop in and say what an absolute privilege it is to be part of The Project family for the five years I was lucky enough to work with you all,” said the star.
“I remember being in awe every single time there was a big international news story and Hamish was there for us, including one very hairy trip reporting on the deadly riots in Hong Kong in 2019. I also remember Hamish MacDonald breaking one of my ribs one night just after we came off air with a huge hug - but he can probably better tell that story.”
Aly went on to share that Wilkinson was the one of the “nicest” people he’s ever worked with.
“She is the nicest colleague that you will ever have, no matter what industry you work in. And that’s a huge thing to say for someone that comes with her eminence,” he told viewers.
Comedian Susie Youssef teared up as she sat on the panel with Tommy Little to share her favourite memories of the Network 10 series.
Fighting back her emotions, she said: “In my first year on the show, which was many moons ago - I was sent to Uluru when the walk was being closed. I remember saying - I don’t think that I’m well enough to do this, and also, I’m not a journalist and they said, you’re on the right show, do it. I will never forget it as long as I live. I feel like I’m going to cry.”
But it was original hosts Carrie Bickmore and Dave Hughes that were the final guests to be invited onto the panel just one last time.
“We came off the back of Masterchef when we first aired, which was the first explosion of Masterchef where it rated through the roof so we had to take that spot. But our first episode rated really well, like 1.3 million viewers”
Taunton then interjected, teasing: “I heard rumours about those kinds of numbers! Where is the water, I need to cool myself down again!”
Bickmore alluded to having her appearance poked fun at by viewers during her time on the show, saying: “I appreciate all of the feedback I’ve received over the years from you guys about my looks. You’re always so lovely about what you think about what I look like. I do remember there was a period of time where teasing was big.”
“That was controversial, wasn’t it?” replied Waleed as they showed a picture of Bickmore when she went brunette.
“I’m too grey to ever have that colour again. But yeah, it was... It was fun being brunette, being someone different for a day. There’s been lots of styles. It’s been a long time. It’s been 16 years. Like, I could probably wear the outfit that I wore first night back again and it would be back in fashion.”
The former host went on to thank the show for helping her raise awareness for brain cancer research over the years, which she revealed has now resulted in “clinical trials” that could result in thousands of lives being saved.
”This entire show, to your support over the years, to everyone behind the scenes, I just want to say a big thank you.”
In the end, it all came down to heartbreaking final speeches from Georgie Tunny and Waleed Aly, both of whom fought back tears but in the end relented to their emotions as they clocked out of the studio one final time.
“I can’t actually look at you all, I’m so sorry, because you’ve just been an absolute dream to work with,” said Tunny as she broke down. “There can be a lot said about the media industry and it’s cat fights and all of this, but this has been a family from the beginning and I know that you’ll still in my life.”
“Thanks to the people who built this from nothing,” began Aly. “The people who made this show 4,504 times, on camera and off. People long gone and here today. Every one of you is indispensable. Thank you to our guests over the years. To those who came to play, or persuade. To those who came on to be challenged, to meet us in the great public square of our lives, who disagreed with us in good faith over the years: thank you so much. You made us better. And thank you to you at home. Thanks for letting us into your hearts. Cliche thing to say is to let us in your living rooms but that is inadequate. Instead, thank you for letting us into your hearts.”
Speaking to Sydney Morning Herald this week, Harris revealed that while it wasn’t the first time one of her show’s been axed, it had at least been one of the more pleasant experiences.
“I had my first axing when I was 19,” Harris shared. “It was a show called Local Edition – unkindly called Limited Edition by some – which lasted three months on Channel Seven. We came into work one morning and they said, ‘We’re axing the show. It’s terrible. Now pack up your desk and leave.’ So being able to say a proper goodbye on The Project has been really nice.”
Harris’ co-host, Aly, said that it was firmly believed when the show first started that it probably wouldn’t last “more than six months”.
“The conventional wisdom was that the show wouldn’t last six months because on paper, it’s bonkers,” he confessed. “But what it had was a spirit and an irreverent attitude that felt of this country and of this place. It chimes with the Australian character in so many ways.”
Originally published as Carrie Bickmore returns to The Project as she joins an emotional Waleed Aly and Sarah Harris to bid farewell
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