Channel Ten has announced the cancellation of The Project, its long-running news and entertainment panel show, after 16 years and over 4,500 episodes. Known for its unique approach to current affairs—“news done differently”—The Project will air its final episode on Friday, 27 June. It will be replaced by a new national one-hour current affairs and analysis program at 6pm, following Ten’s local 5pm news bulletin.
Launched in 2009 as The 7pm Project, the show originally featured hosts Carrie Bickmore, Charlie Pickering, and Dave Hughes. Over the years, it earned critical acclaim and industry recognition, with Bickmore winning a Gold Logie in 2015 and Waleed Aly, who joined the panel that same year, receiving his own in 2017. Aly became known for his impactful editorial segments, Something We Should Talk About, while the rotating cast in recent years has included Sarah Harris, Georgie Tunny, Hamish Macdonald, Sam Taunton, Susie Youssef, and Rove McManus.
The program was created by Craig Campbell of Roving Enterprises, which he co-owns with McManus. In a statement, Campbell reflected on the show’s legacy: “Sixteen years ago, I never imagined this quirky entertainment concept would grow into a staple of Australia’s news cycle. We have an extraordinary team, and this decision will hit them hard.”
Over its run, The Project earned 11 Logie Awards and a Walkley Award, with Network Ten praising the show’s role in shaping public conversations on issues such as marriage equality, animal welfare, the NDIS, and domestic violence. “The show successfully balanced humour and heart, offering thoughtful conversations alongside celebrity interviews that resonated nationally—and even globally,” the network said.
Despite its influence, The Project struggled with declining ratings in recent years, as younger viewers shifted away from traditional television. The show also faced criticism from some quarters for its progressive tone, often labelled “too woke” by parts of the media.
Ten concluded its statement with a message of appreciation: “The impact The Project has had on the media landscape, individual careers, and Australian society is profound. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the dedicated team at Network Ten and Roving Enterprises who brought it to life every night.”
Channel Ten has announced the cancellation of The Project, its long-running news and entertainment panel show, after 16 years on air and more than 4,500 episodes. Known for its distinctive blend of journalism and entertainment—described as “news done differently”—the program will air its final episode on Friday, 27 June. It will be replaced by a new national one-hour news, current affairs, and analysis show at 6pm, following Ten’s 5pm local news bulletin.
The Project originally launched in 2009 under the title The 7pm Project, with hosts Carrie Bickmore, Charlie Pickering, and Dave Hughes. The show quickly built a reputation for its mix of light-hearted commentary and serious journalism. It garnered multiple awards over the years, including Gold Logies for Bickmore in 2015 and Waleed Aly in 2017. Aly, who joined the show in 2015, became widely recognised for his editorial segments, Something We Should Talk About. In its later years, the panel featured a rotating cast including Sarah Harris, Georgie Tunny, Hamish Macdonald, Sam Taunton, Susie Youssef, and Rove McManus.
The Project was created by Craig Campbell of Roving Enterprises, which he co-owns with McManus. Reflecting on the show’s legacy, Campbell said in a statement: “Sixteen years ago, I couldn’t have imagined that a quirky entertainment concept would become part of Australia’s daily news conversation. We have an extraordinary team, and this decision will hit them hard.”
Throughout its run, the show received 11 Logie Awards and a Walkley Award. Network Ten praised its impact on national discussions around social issues such as marriage equality, animal rights, disability awareness, the NDIS, and domestic violence. “The Project successfully balanced humour and heart, creating space for thoughtful conversation and interviews that resonated across the country and beyond,” the network said.
Despite its cultural relevance, The Project faced declining ratings in recent years, largely due to shifting viewer habits and the decline of free-to-air television. The show also drew criticism from some sections of the media for its progressive stance, often labelled “too woke.”
Ten concluded its announcement with a message of gratitude: “The Project has left a lasting mark on the media industry, countless individual careers, and Australian society. We offer our heartfelt thanks to the dedicated teams at Network Ten and Roving Enterprises who brought it to air each night.”
Sources close to the show, speaking to Guardian Australia on condition of anonymity, suggested that the fallout from the high-profile Brittany Higgins interview and the subsequent $10 million defamation trial took a toll on the program, even though Network Ten and former host Lisa Wilkinson ultimately won the case.
Bruce Lehrmann, who has denied the allegations, pleaded not guilty at his 2022 criminal trial to one charge of sexual intercourse without consent, denying any sexual activity occurred. The case ended without a verdict. He has appealed the defamation ruling, with a hearing scheduled for August.
