[ad_1]
Carrie Bickmore shocked viewers on Tuesday night when she revealed she is leaving The Project after 13 years at the desk.
The television host announced she was exiting the show so she can spend more time with her family.
But those watching closely may have seen the tell-tale signs that the 41-year-old was nearing her exit for some time.
Carrie Bickmore (pictured) shocked viewers on Tuesday night when she revealed she is leaving The Project after 13 years at the desk. But those watching closely may have seen the tell-tale signs that the 41-year-old was nearing her exit for some time
Rumours of a ‘feud’ with co-star Lisa Wilkinson, although repeatedly denied, raised concerns that not all was well in The Project family, as did Carrie’s exit to London with her family for three months in April.
The TV presenter fought back tears as she told viewers it was the hardest decision she has had to make in her professional life.
However, it may have been a decision she’d been making for some time.
Rumours of a ‘feud’ with co-star Lisa Wilkinson
Rumours of a ‘feud’ with co-star Lisa Wilkinson (left), although repeatedly denied, raised concerns that not all was well in The Project family
In 2018, a report published by The Daily Telegraph claimed that Carrie was ‘less than impressed’ with Ten’s decision to recruit Lisa on The Project.
‘[She is] p**sed off at Wilkinson being shipped in to sit alongside her,’ insiders allegedly told the publication.
Carrie was quick to make a denial, telling Who magazine that her 62-year-old counterpart was ‘the shot in the arm that [The Project] needed’.
‘I couldn’t be more excited to be working with her. We text, we call and we’re going to make a great team,’ she declared.
In 2018, a report published by The Daily Telegraph claimed that Carrie was ‘less than impressed’ with Ten’s decision to recruit Lisa on The Project
‘It’s good when someone big joins the show. It revives it and changes it. You need that on a show that is on every night,’ Carrie added.
Like Carrie, Lisa also denied the reports, telling news.com.au: ‘I couldn’t believe [there were rumours] because this is complete fiction. Carrie can’t believe it, I can’t believe it,’ she said.
‘For us it’s really disappointing that for some reason there’s a belief… that two strong women can’t work together and support each other and enjoy working together.’
Lisa said that she and Carrie are refusing to engage in the rumours, ‘because it would only give it credibility and there is no truth to it.’
Rumours of a ‘huge pay difference’
The Daily Telegraph claimed Wilkinson was pocketing an enormous $1.7million per year while Bickmore was believed to be on $1.5million
Lisa sensationally quit the Today show back in October 2018, and secured a reported million-dollar salary to front The Sunday Project and helm Ten Daily for Channel 10.
The Daily Telegraph claimed Wilkinson is pocketing an enormous $1.7million per year while Bickmore was believed to be on $1.5million.
The disparity between the two pay packets has been rumoured to have caused some friction, especially as Wilkinson has far less screen time than Bickmore.
The Daily Telegraph noted that the centre of Carrie’s frustration is likely to surround her earning less than Lisa in her role on The Project.
Both women have extensively denied any feud, and their pay packets have not been confirmed by Channel Ten.
The Daily Telegraph noted that the centre of Carrie’s frustration is likely to surround her earning less than Lisa in her role on The Project despite having far more screen time
There is talk that The Project has recently given co-host Waleed Aly, 44, a pay rise, perhaps in anticipation of Carrie’s exit.
Aly has reportedly inked a ‘seven-figure’ deal with Channel 10 that will see him continue to host the current affairs show four nights a week ‘until the mid-2020s’.
It was previously reported he had been earning an estimated $900,000 a year.
Three-month absence from the desk
In April, Carrie temporarily relocated to the UK with her family for a ‘sabbatical’ which she also called ‘long service leave’. Pictured with her partner Chris Walker and their children
In April, Carrie temporarily relocated to the UK with her family for a ‘sabbatical’ which she also called ‘long service leave’.
Carrie shares two children, daughters Evie, six, and Adelaide, three, with her partner Chris Walker, a television producer for the ABC and Channel 10.
She welcomed son Oliver, 15, during her marriage to the late Greg Lange, who died of brain cancer in 2010.
The mother of three explained her decision in more detail in an Instagram post, admitting her family had been ‘dreaming’ of the move for ‘a while now’.
‘In April I’m going to be taking a few months off The Project desk. Chris and I and the kids are heading off on a family adventure together,’ she said, becoming emotional
She said the ‘extended family time’ during lockdown made her realise she only has a few years left before her eldest son Oliver finishes school and moves out.
‘One of the unexpected silver linings to come out of living through Melbourne’s lockdowns was the extended family time,’ she wrote.
‘We feel like this is our last chance to do something like this together before Ollie hits the pointy end of his schooling and no longer wants to hang out with us so… we are heading to the UK for a school term.’
Carrie had earlier become emotional as she revealed on The Project she and her partner Chris would be moving to Britain with their children.
Carrie also said she had been inspired by The Project panellist Kate Langbroek (right) who spent two years living in Bologna, Italy, with her family
‘In April I’m going to be taking a few months off The Project desk. Chris and I and the kids are heading off on a family adventure together,’ she said.
‘We’ve been wanting to do it for a while but for lots of reasons the timing hasn’t been right, but we figure it’s never going to be the perfect time to go.
‘It’s something we really want to do before my son starts his final years at school so we’re doing term two in the UK. So I will be off for a couple of months.’
Carrie also said she had been inspired by The Project panellist Kate Langbroek, 57, who spent two years living in Bologna, Italy, with her family.
Viewers were stunned when Carrie returned to The Project desk just three months later – many suspected she may never return
‘You are a big inspiration for heading overseas with a family and we had some big conversations after living through the world’s longest lockdown,’ Carrie said.
‘One of the things that my son Ollie said was how much he was going to miss the family time when we were coming out of lockdown, which kind of surprised us because we had a lot of family time!’ she added.
‘But we thought, “Gosh, he still wants to spend time with us.” And while he does, he only has a few years left and then he will fly away, so we thought we would seize the moment and do it.’.
Viewers were stunned when Carrie mysteriously returned to The Project desk just three months later – many suspected she may never return.
Rumours of television work offers in the UK
Bickmore sold her five-bedroom family home in Melbourne just days before announcing her extended leave in London earlier this year. Some fans speculated this was because she and her family were planning to buy a place to live in England
Bickmore sold her five-bedroom family home in Melbourne just days before announcing her extended leave in London earlier this year.
Some fans speculated this was because she and her family were planning to buy a place to live in England.
There were also rumours Bickmore was hoping to secure a TV hosting gig in the UK.
‘Carrie could easily do breakfast TV, or stick to her guns and pick up an evening current affairs-style gig,’ an industry source told New Idea in late March.
‘Her management will surely be working hard to use Carrie’s travels in the UK to her advantage.’
There were also rumours Bickmore was hoping to secure a TV hosting gig in the UK. ‘Carrie could easily do breakfast TV, or stick to her guns and pick up an evening current affairs-style gig,’ an industry source told New Idea in late March
Carrie returned to The Project in July with very little fanfare and largely kept mum about her trip.
She joked she had come home with an English accent after living there for a few months, and said she’d had a ‘great time’ – but little else.
However rumours of Carrie landing work overseas have been disputed.
Weighing in on Carrie’s return, a TV insider wrote on the Media Spy forum: ‘It was always long-service leave and to spend time on an extended holiday with her family. She wasn’t moving there forever or to pursue and career.’
Losing the big time interviews?
Since joining The Project, Lisa Wilkinson has interviewed a parade of Hollywood stars and A-listers. Pictured with Paris Hilton
Since joining The Project, Lisa Wilkinson has interviewed a parade of Hollywood stars and A-listers.
In July, Wilkinson secretly flew out of Australia to Los Angeles where she recorded a number of high profile interviews.
She spent time in ‘Hollywood and New York’ where she interviewed ‘musicians and A-list film stars’ for upcoming packages for The Project.
Carrie is rarely granted high-profile interviews, most recently sitting down with Spice Girls star Mel B – and this could have led to some professional frustrations. Lisa is pictured interviewing Barbra Streisand
In recent years, she has sat down with the likes of Matthew McConaughey, Paris Hilton, Kristen Wiig, Richard Dreyfus, Keith Urban and Barbra Streisand.
Wilkinson’s role as the show’s resident roving Hollywood reporter could have left Bickmore muscled out of similar assignments.
Carrie is rarely granted high-profile interviews, most recently sitting down with Spice Girls star Mel B – and this could have led to some professional frustrations.
Jumping a sinking ship amid dismal ratings
Carrie’s exit comes as ratings for The Project continue a downward trend. Channel 10’s flagship current affairs show has lost almost a third of its audience. Pictured with Peter Helliar (left), Waleed Aly (centre left) and Steve Price (right)
Carrie’s exit comes as ratings for The Project continue a downward trend.
Channel 10’s flagship current affairs show has lost almost a third of its audience since 2011, OzTAM ratings revealed in November.
The program saw its metro ratings plummet to an all-time low of just 367,000 in 2021.
That’s a 30 per cent decline from its five-city audience of 538,000 a decade ago.
The national audience, which includes regional viewers, has also seen a similar percentage drop from 725,000 in 2011 to 490,000 in 2021.
The program saw its metro ratings plummet to an all-time low of just 367,000 in 2021
These figures have made The Project commercial TV’s worst-performing nightly premium program.
Despite disappointing ratings, a Channel 10 spokesperson denied rumours late last year that The Project would soon be facing the axe.
‘The Project has just celebrated its 12th birthday and is here to stay,’ they said.
‘At a time when information, context and understanding is more important than ever, The Project will continue to provide Australians with their dose of news delivered differently.’
Despite disappointing ratings, a Channel 10 spokesperson denied rumours late last year that The Project would soon be facing the axe. Pictured with Carrie are Tommy little, Peter Helliar, Hamish Macdonald, Waleed Aly, Lisa Wilkinson and Gorgi Coghlan
A leading TV commentator claimed Channel 10 was losing viewers because of The Project’s left-wing agenda.
Rob McKnight, a former 10 executive who now runs industry website TV Blackbox, said the views expressed on The Project don’t resonate with everyday Aussies.
He told Daily Mail Australia that despite its slick production and top-tier talent, The Project is ‘very woke and that doesn’t connect with mainstream Australia’.
Bickmore has been a core part of The Project since its launch in 2009. Carrie is seen here with former hosts Dave Hughes (left) and Charlie Pickering (second from left), as well as MasterChef alum Julie Goodwin (second from right)
[ad_2]
Source link
