Lisa Wilkinson defends Project’s ratings slump: ‘I just want to do good work’
LISA Wilkinson knew there’d be scrutiny after her high-profile switch from Today to The Project. But as ratings dwindle, she insists she’s not bothered.
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LISA Wilkinson has defended The Project’s ratings slump, after making the very high-profile switch from Nine’s Today show last year.
The popular presenter’s debut on The Sunday Project earlier this year attracted 481,000 metro viewers for her debut, but numbers have since dropped significantly, with the most recent episode drawing just 254,000.
But in a new interview with WHO magazine, Wilkinson, 58, insisted she’s not focusing on the numbers.
“In the end, I just want to do good work and the rest will follow,” she said. “There was always going to be a lot of scrutiny because my change from Channel Nine to Channel 10 drew a couple of headlines and so I expected that.”
However, Wilkinson explained that her new show was still being developed.
“We’re bedding down particularly The Sunday Project at the moment and working out the best mix for the show and one of the wonderful things about going to The Project is the trust that people have in the journalism ... They trust us in my experience more than any other interview program on Australian television.”
Wilkinson sensationally quit the Today show last year after reports Nine bosses were refusing to pay her the same salary as co-host Karl Stefanovic.
Shifting from the gruelling breakfast shift after 10 years, it’s clear that she’s not missing the early alarm clock.
“I am no longer sleep-deprived and that’s made an enormous difference to me and everyone in my immediate circle of friends and family,” she told WHO.
“It’s wonderful to be able to get out on the road and do longer-form journalism ... and everyone has been so ridiculously welcoming that I’m just so thrilled I made the change.”
Originally published as Lisa Wilkinson defends Project’s ratings slump: ‘I just want to do good work’