'Getting the B team': Channel Ten confirms revamp of The Project

Channel Ten has confirmed it will be looking at a new approach for The Project this year in a bid to increase the evening news program’s ratings.

Chief content officer Beverley McGarvey said the network believes the almost-nightly changes in the panel lineup have affected the program’s numbers and that is set to change.

“You won't see the same faces six nights a week but what I would like to have is consistency and familiarity,” she told the Herald Sun.

“We don't want people to feel like they're getting the B-team.”

Carrie Bickmore remains the show’s longest running presenter after joining the program for its debut back in 2009 alongside Charlie Pickering. Fellow host Waleed Aly and comedian Pete Helliar are among the show’s other main presenters.

Lisa Wilkinson joined the program in 2018 to host The Sunday Project, but has since then also filled in during the week, with viewers also regularly seeing Gorgi Coghlan, Susie Youssef, Joel Creasey and Tommy Little at the desk.

Hamish MacDonald had also been a regular presenter until his move to the ABC. The veteran journo was announced as the new host of Q and A back in November.

“This role will be a huge opportunity to make the most complicated issues accessible, engaging and exciting for all Australians,” he said following the announcement.

“I'm so passionate about telling the big stories of our time through Australian eyes, for an Australian audience.”

Hamish is also a regular member of RN Breakfast’s on-air team in addition to reporting for current affairs program, Foreign Correspondent.

While there is no talk of whether any members of the current The Project team will face the axe, the Network has confirmed it aims to have the panel fixed per night.

Beverley explained that meant if Waleed, Carrie and Pete were on the panel on a Monday, they would then be there every single Monday.

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