After 13 years behind the desk with 10‘s flagship news and current affairs show,The Project, Carrie Bickmore has announced that she’ll be leaving the show. She made the announcement on Tuesday, saying that she’ll stay on for the rest of the year.
When the show launched in 2009 (then called The 7PM Project), Bickmore shared the desk with Dave Hughes and Charlie Pickering.
Bickmore won the TV Week Logie Award for Best New Talent in 2010 for her work on The Project.
“I have some news I wanted to share tonight that after 13 years at The Project desk I have made the tough decision to finish up hosting the show at the end of the year,’’ she said on Tuesday’s show.
“It’s been the hardest decision of my professional life but it’s time for a new challenge and my next chapter. I am going to miss my best mates on the desk, the job itself which is so incredibly fulfilling and our wonderful viewers so much.
“The show has become a second home to me and I couldn’t be more thankful to everyone involved in it. I started the show when Ollie was one and he is now 15, which is crazy.
“I look forward to more family dinners and watching the show with my PJs on and a wine in hand. I’ll say more to the amazing people I work with when it’s time to say my final goodbye, but for now I will enjoy every show I have left until the end of the year.
“I just want to say thank you, it has been an incredible privilege.”
Earlier this year, Bickmore and her family took a break, heading to London for three months. She continued to host her Hit Network radio show, Carrie and Tommy, from overseas, and made her return to The Project desk in July.
Beverley McGarvey, executive vice president and chief content officer, Paramount ANZ, said: “Carrie Bickmore is synonymous with The Project, having graced our screens and won our hearts during the premiere episode on July 20, 2009.
“I know this has been a very difficult decision for Carrie, and although we are all very sad that she will no longer be on The Project we fully respect her decision and wish her nothing but the best for her next adventure.
“Carrie has been a wonderful host of The Project for the past 13 years, and she has also been a respected, valued and much-loved member of the 10 family for the past 17 years, when she appeared every week as the popular newsreader on Rove Live.
“Her genuine warmth, empathy, passion, humanity and humour have always resonated with viewers. It’s no wonder audiences welcomed her night after night into their loungerooms and onto their screens.
“There have been many magical Carrie moments and we look forward to celebrating these when we farewell Carrie on Wednesday, November 30. We hope to work together again.”