Lisa Wilkinson is unlikely to be the main host of The Project following Carrie Bickmore’s shock announcement of leaving the show at the end of the year.
After 13 years of hosting The Project, Carrie announced that she will be leaving the news program at the end of the year to spend more time with her family.
Her departure has raised a series of questions, particularly who will be replacing Carrie from Monday to Wednesday.
Co-host Lisa Wilkinson only hosts the show on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays and it is highly unlikely she will take all six days because the ratings are just not good enough on those nights.
An analysis by The Australian found that the Friday and Sunday episodes which are hosted by Lisa and Hamish Macdonald, only average a mere 218,953 viewers in the five capital cities.
That figure is a huge 40.9 per cent less than the average viewers of 308,460 who watch The Project Monday to Wednesday when Carrie and Waleed Aly are hosting.
Nationally, Lisa and Hamish have only brought in an average of 295,053 viewers in 2022, compared to the 409,959 viewers who watch Carrie and Waleed.
There are arguments though, that Friday is a “slow viewing night” for all networks, but this can’t be argued for Sunday which is the “strongest night of the week”.
Names that are being put forward to replace Carrie instead of Lisa include: Chrissie Swan, Georgie Tunny, Studio 10’s co-host Sarah Harris, and former Bachelor contestant Abbie Chatfield.
Regular Project panellists Jan Fran and Susie Youssef are also having their names thrown around as possible replacements.
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