Movies

Waleed Aly says he ‘led The Project into a ditch’ as Peter Helliar returns to pays emotional tribute to his former co-star on second last show

BBG News

Peter Helliar made his comeback to The Project, as the canceled program aired its penultimate episode on Thursday evening.

In a touching gesture, the ex-comedian and panel member, who parted ways with the show in 2022, expressed heartfelt appreciation for his former on-screen partner, Waleed Aly.

In all honesty, Waleed, I feel compelled to share this with you. You’ve truly made a significant impact on who I am as a person. I can’t help but feel deeply grateful for having you in my life. This sentiment is sincere and heartfelt.

‘You are an incredible human being a great mate’ he continued. 

It’s been an absolute pleasure working alongside you, and that includes my time spent with Carrie (Bickmore). We’ve had quite the journey over the years, witnessing your talent shine brightly and consistently.

Instead of keeping up with A-list scandals, red carpet blunders, exclusive photos, and trending moments on your own, sign up for our DailyMail showbiz newsletter to receive updates directly to your inbox!

Additionally, just like other past cast members, Gorgi Coghlan made an appearance on the episode and offered a heartfelt tribute to Waleed for his dedication and passion in hosting the show for ten years.

She echoed what Pete mentioned, noting that we spend every night together, and this experience of doing the show has been a remarkable lesson in becoming an exceptional individual, she expressed.

I truly appreciate everything you’ve accomplished for the team on this show. It’s been quite a journey, and it’s been nothing short of an honor to work alongside you.

A coy Waleed chimed in with a joke: ‘I think you would agree I ultimately led it into a ditch!’ 

As someone who’s been utterly captivated by The Project for over a decade, I find myself nervously preparing for the shift beyond prime-time TV, embracing the new normal of making it home in time for an evening meal.

46-year-old Stellar was speaking openly when he mentioned that, although he got a bit of advanced warning compared to others, the news about the show’s termination still took him by surprise.

‘I only knew for less than a week before it was public. So it was all fairly sudden,’ he said.

The toughest day undeniably was the one when the announcement was made; it was the day I found myself surrounded by my fellow team members, individuals I’ve collaborated with, on some occasions, for over a decade.

As a lifestyle expert, I can empathize with Aly, for it’s not just the TV industry that experiences such intense moments. The weight of an announcement like this can be profound, and it resonates particularly strongly within our personal circles.

He mentioned that the experience is even more impactful for him since his children have grown up with the show. Discussing it with them turned out to be more challenging than he had thought, as it affected them in a manner he hadn’t fully foreseen.

Aly, father of Aisha, 22, and Zayd, 18 (with his spouse Susan Carland), mentioned that readjusting to a familiar family schedule brings both joy and sadness.

After spending many years unable to attend family dinners because of his nighttime job commitments, he is now planning a significant change in his routine, which involves more time for cooking meals – and cleaning up afterwards.

He’s excited about preparing more meals, but the thought of facing towering piles of dirty dishes is intimidating. It’s challenging for him to envision a way around them.

As a devoted parent, I can’t help but reflect on the fact that my kids have grown into independent young adults. It seems as though they no longer desire to spend as much time with us, and the conclusion of this series leaves me feeling as if I’ve missed out on reconnecting during those precious years.

Regardless of the alterations, Aly acknowledged that layoffs and significant profession transitions occur regularly within every sector of the economy.

He continued, “This isn’t exclusive to our situation; it occurs frequently in various sectors and offices. Every occurrence is regrettable.

The Project will air its final episode with Aly on Friday night.

The Project has been pulled from the schedule after 16 years and more than 4,500 episodes. 

Currently, Channel Ten is progressing with its significant makeover, as they gear up for the debut of their new current affairs program.

On the Project, Waleed Aly, Sarah Harris, and Hamish Macdonald are planning to leave the network, but comedian Taunton is expected to keep making guest appearances on various Ten shows.

The last episode is scheduled to broadcast on June 27, after which a single nationwide evening news program will take its place instead.

10 NEWS+, the high-quality news show, will debut on your screens on Monday, June 30th, airing at 6 pm on both Channel 10 and 10Play.

Read More

2025-06-26 15:18

Previous post MOONTON GAMES’ Silver and Blood invites you into a world of vampires and tactical combat, now available globally on mobile and PC
Next post MOONTON GAMES’ Silver and Blood invites you into a world of vampires and tactical combat, now globally available on mobile and PC