‘If I want a comic take on the topical I’ll watch Have You Been Paying Attention?’: Colin Vickery on why The Project should go

Promoted as “news delivered differently” with its mix of headlines and humour, The Project has been stranded in no-man’s land and is running on fumes. It’s easy to see why serious news will replace it.

Channel 10 is getting serious. Well, at least its news and current affairs division is, with The Project axed and replaced by a new hard-hitting “news, current affairs, and insights” program.

The hour-long program will reportedly feature former Seven journalists Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace and will screen weeknights at 6pm.

That is quite a change of philosophy. The Project was promoted as “news delivered differently” with its mix of headlines and humour but now it looks like Ten wants to play it straight.

The Project definitely feels like it has run its course. The glory days are over. Ratings are ordinary.

It is running on fumes.

Waleed Aly and Sarah Harris. Picture: Network 10

Why is it out of puff? Let’s not forget that it has been on air for 16 years. Few programs last that long and stay fresh. That is quite an achievement.

But it was a show in constant flux. Just as it was finding its groove, hosts would change. Carrie Bickmore, Charlie Pickering, Dave Hughes, Gorgi Coghlan, Lisa Wilkinson, Tommy Little, Peter van Onselen, and Hamish Macdonald came and went.

A 2023 revamp with Sarah Harris added alongside Waleed Aly didn’t make a dent.

Aly’s editorials resonated at first but his Gold Logie win was nine years ago. Wilkinson achieved a ratings spike when she signed on in 2018 but the fallout from the Bruce Lehrmann saga led to an early exit.

Critics complained that The Project was too left-leaning and woke. Its politics certainly felt

predictable. It was preaching to the converted.

In recent times, the program has also been weighed down by poor lead-in figures from Deal or No Deal.

Waleed Aly. Picture: Channel 10

Just as The Project would find its grove, it would change presenters. Picture: Network 10

For me, The Project has long been stranded in no-man’s land. If I want informed analysis of

important issues and events, I’ll watch 7.30. If I want a comic take on the topical I’ll stump for Have You Been Paying Attention? and The Cheap Seats.

It is easy to see why Ten has decided to change course. The ratings for serious news and current affairs programs are strong across the board right now.

Ten’s challenge is that for more than a decade it has built its brand – and set itself apart from rival networks – by focusing on lighthearted shows that have fun in that space.

Will going in a new, more serious, direction work? If you ask me, that’s quite a project.

Colin Vickery is a Melbourne writer and TV critic

Originally published as ‘If I want a comic take on the topical I’ll watch Have You Been Paying Attention?’: Colin Vickery on why The Project should go