The Project hosts get candid about end of Melbourne lockdown

The Project hosts had an emotional reaction to news of Melbourne’s lockdown lifting, with Carrie Bickmore saying it came in the nick of time.

Panellists on The Project could barely contain their delight during Monday night’s episode on reporting on the news that Melbourne’s strict coronavirus lockdown will soon be lifted for the most part.

And an emotional Carrie Bickmore said she was relieved the news had come as “despair and anger” had begun to permeate Melbourne.

The news broke just hours before The Project aired, with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews declaring that “now is the time to open up” as the state recorded no new coronavirus cases. The Project panellists Carrie Bickmore, Waleed Aly, Peter Helliar and Steve Price – all of whom live in Melbourne – let out a cheer as Bickmore read the news at the top of the show.

“I was in another room, and the squeals I heard from three grown men watching that press conference today!” said Bickmore. “Have you ever squealed at a press conference before?”

Carrie Bickmore on The Project.

Peter Helliar: “It’s a weird kind of joy.”

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Helliar said he had felt “weirdly emotional” watching Andrews’ presser. “I felt weirdly lighter. One of our security guards asked me, ‘How are you feeling?’ I said, ‘I actually feel bloody great’, and it was the first time I have meant that all year. It‘s funny, because I was caught by surprise by it,” he said.

“I knew something was coming … but I didn‘t know what it was,” said Aly. “Today’s announcement and the extent of it, I was shocked by it. We thought it would be more baby steps. It was only possible because of the length and severity of the lockdown that understandably drove a lot of people nuts,” he said.

Steve Price – who made headlines a few months back with a surprisingly candid confession on the show about how tough he was finding the lockdown – was clearly elated at the news.

Steve Price: “We’re back in Australia.”

“Such an opening up of everything. I just got the feeling we are back in Australia. We have been the pariahs in Victoria, and no one wants to come here, we can‘t go anywhere. Suddenly we are back with the rest of our mates around the country,” said Price.

Later on in the episode, Helliar described the feeling as a “weird kind of joy,” while Bickmore said the announcement had arrived not a moment too soon: “The despair that was creeping in, and the anger …” she said.

The news came just a day after Project guest and former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett angrily clashed with the panel over Melbourne’s tough lockdown laws, telling Sunday Project host Peter van Onselen: “You’re very lucky because you’ve still got a job.”

As one of the few Australian panel TV shows filmed in Melbourne, The Project has offered a unique perspective on the city’s strict months-long lockdown, with the hosts regularly opening up about the challenges they personally were facing.

Hopefully, life in Melbourne is about to become a bit less challenging. And announcing the end of stage four lockdown on Monday afternoon, the Victorian Premier was asked the question on everyone’s lips.

“Can I confirm you are saying we can finally get on the beers?” a reporter asked, referencing a previous memorable Andrews phrase.

“I don’t know that I’ll be drinking a beer tonight,” Mr Andrews said. “I might go a little higher up the shelf.”