The Project's Waleed Aly confirms TV future after exit speculation

Rachel Choy
Updated ·3-min read

The Project presenter Waleed Aly will remain on the show's panel following suggestions he could be next to quit.

The program will look completely different next year, after Carrie Bickmore, Lisa Wilkinson and Peter Helliar all announced their shock exits from the Channel Ten show.

On Wednesday, Channel Ten announced Sarah Harris would be replacing Carrie, and confirmed Waleed will remain a mainstay Monday through Thursday.

Ahead of the announcement, there was speculation Waleed could be next to leave with media personality Peter Ford suggesting the host could move onto a different Channel 10 project.

Peter Helliar, Waleed Aly, Carrie Bickmore and Kate Langbroek on The Project
The Project panellist Waleed Aly may be next to leave the show. Photo: Ten

"I'm of the belief that Waleed Aly is not a certainty to be there next year; I think he has another project with Ten," he told news.com.au. “And fairly major secondary players are also considering whether they will be returning or not.”

Alongside Waleed and Sarah, Hamish Macdonald will continue to report from around the country and appear on the show every Friday and Sunday night. Georgie Tunny will also appear on the show on Friday nights.

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"I can’t wait to share the desk with Waleed, Hamish, Georgie and the rest of the team," Sarah added. "I’m excited to shake it up in the new year!"

With the number of resignations at The Project, Peter told news.com.au "taking out more than one major player" was like "throwing a grenade and hoping for the best".

“This is the first major shake-up ever; they’ve given the show tweaks in the past, but this is do or die. I think the way the show was going, it was going into a sinkhole and it was not going to recover.”

The Project hosts Waleed Aly and Carrie Bickmore
Carrie's last appearance on the show will be November 30. Photo: Ten

Carrie’s emotional tribute to Peter

This comes after Carrie shared a sweet tribute after Peter’s shock announcement.

Peter's news came just two days after Lisa Wilkinson announced she would be leaving the Channel Ten show, and one month after Carrie revealed she will be leaving as well.

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"Ohhhhh Pete," Carrie began her post. "We’ve been on tv together for the best part of 17 years and it’ll be so strange not doing life at work with you anymore, but I am so glad we can continue to do life outside of work together as we do now.

"Congrats on your time @theprojecttv. Working with you has always been a breeze…you get me…I get you…and it’s simply been a joy getting to share the desk with you. Good luck with all that is to come for you. Luv ya mate."

She then jokingly finished by adding, "P.S our heads are not to scale in this pic."

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