An emotional Carrie Bickmore has broken down in tears as she confirmed after 13 years behind the desk, she has decided now is the time to exit The Project.
The decision to completely exit The Project comes after Bickmore opted to take a 3-month break from the nightly news program earlier this year.
An emotional Carrie Bickmore confirmed her decision by telling viewers;
“After 13 years at The Project, I have made the tough decision to finish up hosting the show at the end of the year.
It‘s been the hardest decision of my professional life to make this call, but it’s time for a new challenge and my next chapter,”
“There’s so much I’m gonna miss, I’m gonna miss my best mates on the desk, the job itself, which is so incredibly fulfilling. The wonderful viewers over the last 13 years.
“It’s no secret that this show has become a second home to me, and I couldn’t be more thankful to everyone that has been involved on and off screen.”
Bickmore’s final appearance as host on The Project is now confirmed for Wednesday, November 30. It is understood the popular presenter’s contract with the network expires soon after.
As part of the announcement, Bickmore indicated she didn’t know what she was going to do next, but confirmed she wasn’t leaving TV. The mother of three children has previously indicated she would like to be able to spend more evening home with her family.
Bickmore’s decision to exit comes at a time when several nightly news programs are experiencing upheaval. Earlier this year Leigh Sales exited the ABC’s 7:30 program while Tracy Grimshaw has also recently confirmed this will be her final year as host of A Current Affair.
In a statement supplied to TV Blackbox, Beverley McGarvey, Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer, Paramount ANZ, thanked Bickmore for her time at The Project:
“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 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.”
