Carrie Bickmore prompts speculation she’s moving to Channel 9 after The Project

Hours after Carrie Bickmore announced her emotional departure from The Project, a curious detail about her choice of words has sparked industry rumours.

Carrie Bickmore hasn’t ruled out a potential network jump after announcing her departure from The Project panel.

Revealing the news on the show last night, Bickmore said she’s leaving the show at “a time that feels right”, adding that it’s “time for a new challenge and my next chapter”.

While she didn’t divulge what her next move would be, it comes amid weeks of reports she’s a strong contender to replace Tracy Grimshaw on A Current Affair over on rival network Channel 9.

Additionally, when asked directly if ACA was in her sights, the beloved media personality simply laughed off the speculation.

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Could Carrie be the new Tracy Grimshaw?

Further fuelling industry whispers, The Daily Telegraph has published rumours of Bickmore potentially embarking on a career 180 to breakfast telly, joining Karl Stefanovic on the Today show instead of Ally Langdon.

Stefanovic’s co-host would in turn step in to Tracy Grimshaw’s role on A Current Affair, a role for which she is reportedly a top contender.

However, the publication notes that a move to Today would require Bickmore and her family to uproot and move to Sydney, where the show is shot, from their home in Melbourne.

Grimshaw announced last month that she was stepping down after 17 years in the host’s chair.

The 62-year-old television stalwart shared the news of her departure in an emotional speech at the end of her show.

Fast forward a few weeks, a tearful Carrie Bickmore explained to The Project on Tuesday night: “It’s been the hardest decision of my professional life to make this call but it’s time for a new challenge”.

Bickmore took to Instagram to share some more thoughts on her resignation, adding that when she first started on the show her eldest son Ollie was a one-year-old. He’s now 15, and she’s since welcomed two more children, Evie and Adelaide.

She called the length of her 13-year reign “crazy”, and added that she is looking forward to “more family dinners and watching the show with my pj’s on and a wine in hand”.

Bickmore has been at The Project’s helm since day one, telling audiences on Tuesday night: “I’m gonna miss my best mates on the desk, the job itself which is just so incredibly fulfilling, our wonderful viewers who’ve been on the journey over the last 13 years.”

Carrie was in tears as she made the massive announcement.

“It’s no secret that this show has become a second home for me, and I can’t be more thankful to everyone that has been involved on and off screen.

“I’m leaving at a time that I’m so happy to be here, which feels so confusing, but I just know it’s time, I know it’s right,” she said.

Bickmore’s co-host Kate Langbroek — who has just signed on to host a Nine program herself – even mockingly asked the television personality directly if she was jumping ship to host ACA.

But rather than clear up the rumours, Bickmore opted to laugh off the question and swiftly change the subject.

A Channel 9 source told news.com.au of the speculation: “Anything is possible!”

Bickmore’s name has been listed in the race to replace Tracy Grimshaw, with Nine bosses reportedly on the cusp of making an announcement.

According to the Sunday Telegraph, 60 Minutes reporter Sarah Abo is up against 2GB radio host and former Today host Deborah Knight for the coveted role.

However, it had previously been reported that Bickmore along with Georgie Gardner, Leila McKinnon, Sarah Harris, Stan Grant and Melissa Doyle were also being considered.

There is also speculation that Allison Langdon, who currently hosts the Today show with Karl Stefanovic, had expressed interest in the role, according to the Sunday Telegraph.

Meanwhile, frontrunners to replace Bickmore could include Georgie Tunny and Chrissie Swan, who both filled in for the star while she was in the UK earlier this year, as well as Ten regulars Sarah Harris and Gorgi Coghlan.

Originally published as Carrie Bickmore prompts speculation she’s moving to Channel 9 after The Project