Lisa Wilkinson’s new career move after departure from The Project

Lisa Wilkinson has reportedly made a new career shift after pulling up stumps at Channel Ten’s The Project.

Lisa Wilkinson appears to have made a career shift from television personality to social media influencer.

The journalist and presenter last month told viewers she would be departing The Project’s panel after five years on the show. However, she confirmed she would remain at the network.

Now, it appears she is using her fame to promote brands.

According to The Australian, the high-paid TV host promoted her recent stay at five-star Melbourne hotel, The Marriott - posting a picture of its infinity pool.

Wilkinson also promoted drinks and food from the ritzy hotel’s rooftop bar, Sunset House.

“It’s time to reprioritise a few things in my life,” Wilkinson said in November as she announced her departure from The Project.

“And after almost 15 years of the early alarm on breakfast TV, and now another five years here at The Project desk, I’m looking at how I want the coming years to play out, both professionally and personally.

“So, from tonight, I’m stepping back from hosting the show.”

Ten bosses have been left scrambling to find the veteran journalist a position within the network to uphold her lucrative, airtight contract and showcase her current affairs talent.

Wilkinson is one of the country’s highest paid TV stars, with a seven-figure contract with Ten reportedly spanning years thanks to her clever negotiation tactics. But with a position at The Project now off the cards, it’s up to executives to find her a suitable new role to get their money’s worth.

With it highly unlikely Wilkinson will go on to host one of the network’s reality TV shows, options are looking scarce.

Lisa Wilkinson announces her resignation from The Project. Picture Supplied

It’s thought Wilkinson will be taking a long break from any TV hosting duties, and may not return to screens until “well into 2023”.

Chief content officer for Ten’s owner Paramount, Beverley McGarvey, confirmed Wilkinson would be staying with the network, saying the company looked forward “to continuing our strong relationship with Lisa into 2023 and beyond”.

Ten also noted in a statement that it was “no surprise audiences have continued to welcome her into their lounge rooms and on to their screens.”

Ten’s nightly panel program is experiencing something of a mass exodus, with original host Carrie Bickmore revealing last month that she would not be returning in 2023, and Wilkinson and Peter Helliar following suit.

Sam Taunton and Michael Hing will join the new-look panel, which also features Waleed Aly, Sarah Harris, Hamish Macdonald and Georgie Tunny.

Taunton, who has previously appeared as a guest contributor on The Project, will take on Monday to Thursday nights while Triple J Drive host and podcaster Hing will join Macdonald and Tunny on Friday and Sunday.

Originally published as Lisa Wilkinson’s new career move after departure from The Project