Meet the new faces replacing Pete Helliar and Tommy Little on Ten’s The Project

Ten will be hoping the final two pieces in The Project panel puzzle will boost ratings for its flagship news show. See who they are and how they plan to shake up the show.

Exclusive: The final pieces in The Project puzzle have been put in place, with comics Sam Taunton and Michael Hing announced as the newest recruits to Ten’s flagship news panel show.

After the biggest shake-up in the program’s 13-year history – with original host Carrie Bickmore, comedian Pete Helliar and journalist Lisa Wilkinson hanging up their mics – Taunton and Hing will join Waleed Aly, Sarah Harris, Hamish Macdonald and Georgie Tunny.

Taunton has been a regular on the stand-up comedy scene since 2017, scooping up newcomer nominations across the country. He’ll join Sarah Harris and Waleed Aly at the desk Monday to Thursday and said he was both nervous and excited to join the team next year.

“Nervous mainly because they’re handing down Carrie’s wardrobe to me and I’m not sure I can pull it off,” he said.

“It’s a fresh cast and we’re all looking forward to creating something new and energetic that I think people will really respond to. I’m also excited to steal Waleed’s opinions and use them as my own at dinner parties.”

The Project's complete new line-up has been revealed: Sam Taunton (finger outstretched), Sarah Harris (below in white), Michael Hing (above Sarah), Waleed Aly, Hamish Macdonald and Georgie Tunny. Picture: Supplied/Ten

Meanwhile comedian, Triple J Drive host, gamer, actor, and podcaster Hing will take his seat on Friday and Sunday nights with MacDonald and Tunny.

“Honestly, I’m so thrilled to be joining Lisa, Pete and Carrie at The Project and look forward to getting to work with some of the biggest names in television! Wait, what?,”

he said.

GONE: Lisa Wilkinson announces her resignation from The Project in November. Picture Supplied

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST: Peter Helliar announces he's leaving The Project. Picture: Ten Play

Aly said it was a relief that the panel had been confirmed, after the craziness and constant speculation of the past month.

“And it’s a relief that it’s now public,” he said.

“When people leave there’s a melancholy associated with that, but because there aren’t replacements, you’re really just dealing with an abstract,” Aly said.

“And then there’s a void – so when that void gets filled, then it’s different. You’ve got something to latch on to and something to be excited about.

“I’m actually looking forward to working with the new hosts because a lot about the show will remain constant.

“I imagine the stories that come and go will be probably similar to what we’ve seen in previous years.”

While Waleed Aly will absolutely miss former co-hosts Pete Helliar and Carrie Bickmore, he’s looking forward to forming bonds with the new recruits. Picture: Supplied/Ten

Aly did concede the “vibe on the desk, the relationships between the hosts” would be different.

“Yeah, just the, the whole energy around it. That’s the thing I’m most excited about,” he said.

He jokes he’s now the grandfather of the panel – with Taunton, Hing, Tunny all in their thirties.

Harris, who was announced as Bickmore’s replacement late last month and will divide her time between her Sydney home base and Melbourne, says Waleed is actually more the mother hen.

“(When it was first announced) he said ‘I’ve spoken to (wife) Susan (Carland) we’re your family now’,” she said.

“He had all of us over – the producers and the hosts – for dinner and a game night and it lasted late until the night.

“You do worry after leaving a show (Studio 10) that I’ve been a part for so long, and moving on to my new family.

“You think, ‘so am I going to fit in? Is this going to work?’

“We’ve had three promo shoots so far … and we caused so many problems because all we did was laugh and joke.
“So potentially bad promos, but great for us because we know we’ve got a really good combo here.”

The Project hosts Waleed Aly and Sarah Harris. Supplied: 10

The Project executive producer Chris Bendall said comedy has always been at the centre of what The Project does, and “given the news has never been more in need of a laugh, these two will make sure there is no better place to get your news and have fun while you do it”.

“Both Sam and Michael have been part of The Project’s extended family for a while and I am rapt we have locked them down for big new roles,” he said.

“After the biggest shake-up in The Project’s history I am confident we now have the perfect line-up to launch into the new year.”

Ten will be hoping the new-look panel will help boost its ratings, The Project averaged 367,000 last year but sunk to as low as 185,000 in March, bouncing back to 407,000 nationally in July.

The Project, returns Sunday, January 8, 6.30pm, Ten