Carrie Bickmore announces she’s leaving the Project after 13 years

One of the Project’s most popular hosts has announced they have made the tough decision to finish up hosting the show at the end of the year.

Carrie Bickmore has fought back tears in announcing she will leave The Project after 13 years.

The show’s original host announced the shock news at the end of Tuesday night’s program.

“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.

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

“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.

“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.

Bickmore has hosted the Project for 13 years. Picture: Supplied

Co-host Peter Helliar said: “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.”

Beverley McGarvey, Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer, Paramount ANZ, said: “Carrie Bickmore is synonymous with The Project, having graced our screens and won our hearts during the premiere episode on July 20, 2009.

“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.

“Carrie has been a wonderful host of the The Project for the past 13 years, and she has also been a respected, valued and much-loved member of the 10 family for the past 17 years, when she appeared every week as the popular newsreader on Rove Live.

“Her genuine warmth, empathy, passion, humanity and humour have always resonated with viewers. It’s no wonder audiences welcomed her night after night into their loungerooms and onto their screens.

“There have been many magical Carrie moments and we look forward to celebrating these when we farewell Carrie on Wednesday, November 30. We hope to work together again.”