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Chrissie Swan reveals why she’s taking over from Carrie Bickmore on The Project

Chrissie Swan has made a candid confession following the news she’ll be taking over from Carrie Bickmore when the longtime host heads overseas next month.

Carrie announces she is taking some time off (The Project)

Chrissie Swan has opened up about her huge new upcoming gig after being announced as one of Carrie Bickmore’s replacements on The Project.

The former Big Brother star and radio host will make an appearance on the panel one night a week when Bickmore heads overseas next month with her family.

Journalist Georgie Tunny will also join the team in Bickmore’s absence, with Lisa Wilkinson at the helm.

Opening up about the move, Swan confessed the role “scares her”, but she’s eager to “push myself out of my comfort zone”.

“In the spirit of saying ‘yes’ to things that scare me a little bit (actually a lot), and pushing myself out of my comfort zone, I have accepted the challenge to fill in for @bickmorecarrie on @theprojecttv once a week until Carrie returns from her overseas family adventure!” the mum-of-three posted to her 254k followers.

“I am so excited. See you soon on @theprojecttv,” she added.

Channel 10 announced Chrissie Swan will be taking over from Carrie for one night a week from April.
Channel 10 announced Chrissie Swan will be taking over from Carrie for one night a week from April.

Swan’s celebrity pals flooded the post with supportive comments, with Bickmore herself writing: “Have fun babe,” with a series of emojis.

“It does mean you’ll have to sit closer to me Swanny but other than that it’s all upside!!!!” joked fellow Project star Peter Helliar.

Bickmore’s two replacements were made public on Wednesday, with executive producer Chris Bendall telling The Daily Telegraph: “Chrissie and Georgie are well known and loved by Project viewers and I am delighted to see them both take larger hosting roles”.

“We have a lot of exciting plans for the show this year. Carrie’s seat is in safe hands until she returns mid-year with Chrissie and Georgie joining Lisa (Wilkinson) who will continue to deliver outstanding feature stories from around the country alongside her existing hosting duties.”

A statement released by Channel 10 confirmed the development on Thursday.

“Friends of The Project, Chrissie Swan and Georgie Tunny, will join hosts Lisa Wilkinson, Waleed Aly, Peter Helliar, Hamish Macdonald and Tommy Little while Carrie Bickmore and her family go on a well-deserved adventure,” the statement read.

Georgie Tunny has made a few guest appearances on the panel.
Georgie Tunny has made a few guest appearances on the panel.

Tunny, who recently got engaged to former Australian Idol star Rob Mills, is yet to address the announcement on her social media channels.

Meanwhile, Bickmore will continue her radio show with Tommy Little on the Hit Network but will be unable to fill her Project duties while travelling across Europe.

Explaining her decision to take a few months off from the program, Bickmore said on Tuesday: “[Partner] Chris and I and the kids are heading off on a family adventure together.

Carrie Bickmore made the emotional announcement on the program this week.
Carrie Bickmore made the emotional announcement on the program this week.

“We figure it’s never going to be the perfect time to go and it’s something we really want to do before my son starts his final years at school, so we’re doing term two in the UK. So I will be off for a couple of months.”

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/current-affairs/chrissie-swan-reveals-why-shes-taking-over-from-carrie-bickmore-on-the-project/news-story/31e51bbd668d515cfea067519361a823