Latest news with #TheProject
Courier-Mail
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
Waleed Aly reveals pressure as Muslim host of The Project
Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News. The Project host Waleed Aly has spoken publicly for the first time about the intense pressures and challenges he encountered as the first Muslim man to front a major Australian television program. Speaking to a roundtable of former co-hosts on Hit Network's Carrie and Tommy, Aly opened up about the backlash he received as the first Muslim man to hold a prime-time hosting role in commercial TV — revealing he received death threats and required 24-hour security while hosting the show. 'I've never spoken about this publicly but (it was tough) having to deal with death threats and security out the front of my house – sometimes for 24 hours – having to explain to the kids why suddenly there's this guy driving us around as we go the zoo and not telling them why,' he said. Former co-hosts Carrie Bickmore, Tommy Little, Waleed Aly, Pete Helliar and Dave Hughes reflected on their time on the show. Picture: Supplied 'That was very real. That was heavy stuff. So, I never thought about it that way (being the first Muslim on The Project) but I was forced to think about it … it was forced upon me.' The 16-year-old show came to an end after a period of declining ratings and to make room for a new current affairs and insight program 10 News+. Aly has been a co-host since the first episode aired and paid tribute to the 'audacious TV experiment' started by some 'outstandingly creative people'. 'I had been on the show every week (filing in, prior to being cast as a regular). I hadn't thought about it, it was just an extension of what I was doing. You go into commercial TV, and you realise everything becomes about personalities. 'I remember the moment when I was nominated for the Gold Logie, and it was me and Lee Lin Chin and there was a front-page story absolutely going (at) us, and only us … like, 'Why are these guys nominated?' 'I remember moments like that where I was like, 'Whoa, okay, this is a real thing. This is becoming real and it's all foisted upon you.' X SUBSCRIBER ONLY The Project launched in 2009, and Friday's finale was the 4504th episode. It was first confirmed last week that the current affairs and entertainment panel program was wrapping up at the end of June, with stars including Harris and Aly leaving not only their roles on the show but also with Network 10. According to insiders as many as 100 jobs overall will be impacted by Ten's decision to drop the show, which was broadcast six nights a week and has production offices in both Melbourne and Sydney. Alongside Aly, Bickmore co-hosted from 2009 until 2022 yet confessed she 'never felt enough' on the show. 'You talked about feeling like an impostor before. I never have felt enough; I never felt enough on that show,' she said. 'It's a strange thing to say when it was a huge part of my life, and I loved it! I loved it. I don't know if it was me, my own insecurities, or people's projections. The final episode of The Project aired on Friday. Picture: Supplied. 'I'll never forget the moment the words were said to me 'why can't you be more like Waleed?' 'I knew what they meant. You were extraordinary (Waleed) and you arrived on the show and changed the game for commentary everywhere. You were extraordinary. But that wasn't my strength, nor should it have been, nor did I want that, nor did the show need that. 'But the problem was that when something good happens, it's hard to not want everybody to do that good thing, so we can get more of that goodness, and make it even better because we've struck gold! It was like … 'No, Waleed is Waleed!' I should never have been you, we needed to be ourselves, and so often I felt like I needed to be someone else. Something clicked in my head and I realised, I just need to be me.' Originally published as 'Death threats, 24 hour security': Waleed Aly reveals dark Project toll as first Muslim TV host
Sky News AU
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Former hosts Lisa Wilkinson and Carrie Bickmore appear on Network Ten's The Project as final episode airs after 16 years
Former The Project hosts Lisa Wilkinson and Carrie Bickmore made a special appearance for the final episode of the current affairs news program. After 16 years and more than 4,500 episodes, Network Ten announced earlier this month that the nightly show would come to an end without stating a reason. In a statement, a spokesperson said "all good things come to an end" and celebrated The Project for carving out a different way of telling news in the media landscape. On Friday, the final episode, extended to 90 minutes, went to air. Regular hosts Waleed Aly, Sarah Harris, Sam Taunton and Georgie Tunny, welcomed viewers at home and the in-studio audience with a heavy heart. The show flashed back all the way to 2009 when it first arrived on television screens known at the time as The 7PM Project, before a name change two years later. Highlights of the best moments throughout the years were played, including interviews with A-list celebrities and funny incidents on the panel between the hosts. Later, Wilkinson made a surprise appearance. Speaking in a short recorded video, the TV star who hosted the show between 2018 and 2022, said it had been a "privilege" to be part of The Project family. "In my experience, you will never get a more professional and passionate bunch of people, both in front of and behind the cameras," the journalist said. She recalled one particular "great memory" when Aly interviewed former prime minister Scott Morrison following the Christchurch shooting massacre in 2019. Wilkinson also praised the work of former colleague Hamish MacDonald and Bickmore for breaking news and raising millions for brain cancer, respectively. "And Tommy (Little), Pete (Helliar), thank you so much for every time things got a little heavy there at the desk. Taking the piss! You constantly made us laugh at ourselves and the world. Too often, we needed it! And still do," she continued. "This journalism and these moments are what The Project at its best specialised in, and I'm really sad that a show as important and loved as The Project has been over the years won't be on any screens any more. I mean, 11 Logies and a Walkley, that ain't nothing." Tears flowed and laughter was shared throughout the final show. Celebrities including Dannii Minogue, Jessica Mauboy, Andy Lee, Robert Irwin, Shane Jacobson, and singer Callum Scott also left touching messages for the show. Bickmore stopped by in person during the final 30 minutes, saying she had the "worst memory" but one highlight was spending time with Oprah when she was in Australia. "She took me backstage and spent a couple of minutes for me and it was tough time in my life and she was telling me that she was praying for me," she said. Bickmore then encouraged viewers to buy a beanie to support Carrie's Beanies 4 Brain Cancer, after her late husband Greg Lange died following a 10-year battle. The final episode wrapped up with long-time host Aly reading out a monologue describing the change The Project had on Australian current affairs and news. "Sixteen years ago, some outstandingly creative people began an audacious TV experiment. Could you straddle the world of news, popular culture and comedy in a single show, a single segment, a single moment?" he asked. "I think that this show reflected the best of this country. It was irreverent and knew when things were serious but always refused to take itself that way. It always gave its best but never presumed to think that it was doing everything right. For God's sake - the show's name is The Project - it's never finished and it reflected our lives. "You love, you cry. You get things wrong. You laugh, and you do all of these things all at once - not in isolation, because that's life. Often we are laughing despite the tragedy around us. It's release and escape and especially, it's connection." Aly went on to thank staff and viewers at home for "letting us into your hearts". "You're the reason the show existed and the reason that this moment is so hard. TV is a meet, and this was... This was the most extraordinary gathering," he said. "...But this impossible show and the people who gathered around it is unlike anything that came before it, and nothing like it will exist again. This show brought people together with sometimes very little in common and made them long-term friends." The Project will be replaced with another current affairs and news program called 10 News+ and has poached journalists from other newsrooms to front the show.
News.com.au
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘Death threats, 24 hour security': Waleed Aly reveals dark Project toll as first Muslim TV host
The Project host Waleed Aly has spoken publicly for the first time about the intense pressures and challenges he encountered as the first Muslim man to front a major Australian television program. Speaking to a roundtable of former co-hosts on Hit Network's Carrie and Tommy, Aly opened up about the backlash he received as the first Muslim man to hold a prime-time hosting role in commercial TV — revealing he received death threats and required 24-hour security while hosting the show. 'I've never spoken about this publicly but (it was tough) having to deal with death threats and security out the front of my house – sometimes for 24 hours – having to explain to the kids why suddenly there's this guy driving us around as we go the zoo and not telling them why,' he said. 'That was very real. That was heavy stuff. So, I never thought about it that way (being the first Muslim on The Project) but I was forced to think about it … it was forced upon me.' The 16-year-old show came to an end after a period of declining ratings and to make room for a new current affairs and insight program 10 News+. Aly has been a co-host since the first episode aired and paid tribute to the 'audacious TV experiment' started by some 'outstandingly creative people'. 'I had been on the show every week (filing in, prior to being cast as a regular). I hadn't thought about it, it was just an extension of what I was doing. You go into commercial TV, and you realise everything becomes about personalities. 'I remember the moment when I was nominated for the Gold Logie, and it was me and Lee Lin Chin and there was a front-page story absolutely going (at) us, and only us … like, 'Why are these guys nominated?' 'I remember moments like that where I was like, 'Whoa, okay, this is a real thing. This is becoming real and it's all foisted upon you.' The Project launched in 2009, and Friday's finale was the 4504th episode. It was first confirmed last week that the current affairs and entertainment panel program was wrapping up at the end of June, with stars including Harris and Aly leaving not only their roles on the show but also with Network 10. According to insiders as many as 100 jobs overall will be impacted by Ten's decision to drop the show, which was broadcast six nights a week and has production offices in both Melbourne and Sydney. Alongside Aly, Bickmore co-hosted from 2009 until 2022 yet confessed she 'never felt enough' on the show. 'You talked about feeling like an impostor before. I never have felt enough; I never felt enough on that show,' she said. 'It's a strange thing to say when it was a huge part of my life, and I loved it! I loved it. I don't know if it was me, my own insecurities, or people's projections. 'I'll never forget the moment the words were said to me 'why can't you be more like Waleed?' 'I knew what they meant. You were extraordinary (Waleed) and you arrived on the show and changed the game for commentary everywhere. You were extraordinary. But that wasn't my strength, nor should it have been, nor did I want that, nor did the show need that. 'But the problem was that when something good happens, it's hard to not want everybody to do that good thing, so we can get more of that goodness, and make it even better because we've struck gold! It was like … 'No, Waleed is Waleed!' I should never have been you, we needed to be ourselves, and so often I felt like I needed to be someone else. Something clicked in my head and I realised, I just need to be me.'
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘I do have pants on': The Project says goodbye with teary and funny final episode
In the end The Project delivered what it always promised: news done differently. Axed after 16 years and more than 4000 episodes, Friday night's 90-minute farewell was tear-stained yet joyful, a celebration of everything that made The Project truly different: it gave a voice to 'everyday Australians' without ever being condescending. There was no gotcha journalism, just thoughtful reporting and campaigning that made a difference. It had celebrities and musicians, and a roll-call of Australian talent, many of whom found a home on show. I cried, they cried, and I can only imagine the party going on there now. Waleed Aly, Sarah Harris, Georgie Tunny and comedian Sam Taunton helmed the desk for the final night, with special appearances from original The 7.30pm Project hosts Carrie Bickmore, Dave Hughes and Charlie Pickering, who videoed in from New Zealand. Bickmore, who only left two years ago, recalled receiving an enormous bunch of flowers from Oprah Winfrey (her son later broke the vase they arrived in), meeting Brad Pitt while she was bare foot on a boat, and thanked the viewers for all 'the feedback I've received on my looks'. She also reflected on the enormous support her charity Carrie's Beanies 4 Brain Cancer, which she started in 2015 after her husband Greg died of the disease. 'I wanted to raise a million dollars,' she said. 'I would not have raised over $25 million if it wasn't for you guys at home. When we started, I just wanted to raise awareness and now we have a brain cancer centre with people in clinical trials.' Hughes – perhaps the only person who didn't get teary – also recalled being so nervous on the day they met Brad Pitt, that he introduced himself as, 'Hi, I'm Dave, I'm friends with Eric Banana.' Pickering, meanwhile, said the first episode in 2016 was like 'building the plane while you fly it … somehow we figured it out. ' Loading Regular co-hosts Tommy Little, Susie Youssef and Rachel Corbett popped by. Hamish Macdonald and Lisa Wilkinson also dialled in, with both praising The Project's ability to make genuine change, with Wilkinson naming the uncovering of the 'toxic workplace culture at Parliament House' as a personal highlight.
The Age
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
‘I do have pants on': The Project says goodbye with teary and funny final episode
In the end The Project delivered what it always promised: news done differently. Axed after 16 years and more than 4000 episodes, Friday night's 90-minute farewell was tear-stained yet joyful, a celebration of everything that made The Project truly different: it gave a voice to 'everyday Australians' without ever being condescending. There was no gotcha journalism, just thoughtful reporting and campaigning that made a difference. It had celebrities and musicians, and a roll-call of Australian talent, many of whom found a home on show. I cried, they cried, and I can only imagine the party going on there now. Waleed Aly, Sarah Harris, Georgie Tunny and comedian Sam Taunton helmed the desk for the final night, with special appearances from original The 7.30pm Project hosts Carrie Bickmore, Dave Hughes and Charlie Pickering, who videoed in from New Zealand. Bickmore, who only left two years ago, recalled receiving an enormous bunch of flowers from Oprah Winfrey (her son later broke the vase they arrived in), meeting Brad Pitt while she was bare foot on a boat, and thanked the viewers for all 'the feedback I've received on my looks'. She also reflected on the enormous support her charity Carrie's Beanies 4 Brain Cancer, which she started in 2015 after her husband Greg died of the disease. 'I wanted to raise a million dollars,' she said. 'I would not have raised over $25 million if it wasn't for you guys at home. When we started, I just wanted to raise awareness and now we have a brain cancer centre with people in clinical trials.' Hughes – perhaps the only person who didn't get teary – also recalled being so nervous on the day they met Brad Pitt, that he introduced himself as, 'Hi, I'm Dave, I'm friends with Eric Banana.' Pickering, meanwhile, said the first episode in 2016 was like 'building the plane while you fly it … somehow we figured it out. ' Loading Regular co-hosts Tommy Little, Susie Youssef and Rachel Corbett popped by. Hamish Macdonald and Lisa Wilkinson also dialled in, with both praising The Project's ability to make genuine change, with Wilkinson naming the uncovering of the 'toxic workplace culture at Parliament House' as a personal highlight.
