Peter Helliar reveals the emotional toll The Project’s axing has had on him after co-hosting the show for eight years

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Peter Helliar openly discussed the impactful emotional strain that the unexpected cancellation of “The Project” on Channel Ten has had, not just on him, but also on his fellow team members.

On Tuesday’s episode of Jase and Lauren on Nova, the longtime host, who shared hosting duties for the talk show between 2014 and 2022, confessed that he felt deeply saddened by the show’s termination.

He expressed deep sadness. Remarkably, that series left a tremendous impact, spanning over sixteen years. Few shows manage to make it past the first season, but this one truly defied expectations, much like the little engine that kept going.

Initially, it faced cancellation almost every other week during its debut year. Remarkably, sixteen years later, those who went through that show are now recognized as common household names!

Previously on-air personality Helliar, who departed in 2022 alongside Carrie Bickmore, Tommy Little, and Lisa Wilkinson, forewarned that the show’s cancellation would create a massive void in Australian television and potentially have a substantial impact on numerous rising stars who utilized it as a stepping stone for career advancement.

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He expressed that it might not be apparent to the audience, but there’s a lot they could be missing out on right now. Many comedians, musicians, and filmmakers have told him throughout the years, “It was The Project that helped us sell tickets.” That positive impact is no longer present.

He mentioned that many of his ex-Project team members shared with him they had a particularly tough day after learning about the news.

The Project came to an end officially on Monday, marking the conclusion of its 16-year run, with the last episode set for broadcast on June 27th.

10 Network revealed the news on Facebook, expressing gratitude to viewers first, and subsequently disclosed that a new show will be taking over the previous one.

In a change of roles, presenters Waleed Aly, Sarah Harris, and Hamish Macdonald are leaving their positions within the network. Meanwhile, comedian Sam Taunton will persist in making appearances as a guest on various Ten programs.

Since Bickmore vacated her hosting role towards the end of 2022, ratings for the news program have been significantly declining. To date, it has broadcast approximately 4,500 episodes, with plans to conclude operations over the next three weeks.

Previously, Daily Mail Australia had disclosed that The Project was facing a review and was expected to be canceled on March 16.

A photo surfaced online showing Aly, Harris, Taunton, and Georgie Tunny seated and grinning behind a news desk in unison.

The project will wrap up on June 27. For the past 16 years, this project has been Australia’s go-to source for news with a touch of humor. The caption reads as follows.

‘Well, we have loved every second but all good things come to an end and so are we.

To all who have tuned in, shown encouragement, financially contributed for Australian families, contributed behind-the-scenes, or simply hit the ‘like’ button on social media posts – thank you! Your support means everything to us and those we aim to help.

Harris also spoke about the cancellation and her subsequent exit from the network.

In simpler terms, Harris shared with The Sydney Morning Herald that there aren’t many professions which allow you to share deeply human tales, engage with politicians and famous figures, and experience both laughter and tears (sometimes intense emotions) in the presence of a live audience each evening.

Additionally, Aly expressed in a statement that ‘The Project broke new ground in redefining the way news can be presented’.

After announcing that The Project had come to an end, Ten revealed another statement about a new news program set to take its place instead.

More recently, it is anticipated that Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace, who were recently poached, will be hosting the new nightly program.

Back in July 2009, I had the privilege of introducing myself to audiences across the nation as the host of a groundbreaking show that skyrocketed in popularity, captivating over a million viewers in major cities at its peak. The show’s unique appeal was undoubtedly due to our dynamic panel, graced by luminaries such as Aly, Harris, Tunny, Hamish Macdonald, Rove McManus, Taunton, and Susie Youssef. Each of them brought their own charm and wit, making the show an unmissable event every night.

It received numerous honors, among them being 11 Logie Awards. Notably, Aly and Bickmore each won a viewer-voted Gold Logie, two of the awards it took home.

Despite a decline in recent times, it’s worth noting that just the other day, The Project drew in a national viewership ranging from 238,000 to 357,000 spectators.

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2025-06-10 07:52