Andrew Bolt to replace Charlie Pickering on The Project
Updated: TEN has been testing Andrew Bolt to replace Charlie Pickering on The Project.
- Published by David Knox
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- Filed under News
EXCLUSIVE: Outspoken News Corp columnist Andrew Bolt will replace Charlie Pickering on The Project.
Bolt, who is in his fourth year as host of The Bolt Report, will join Carrie Bickmore and Peter Helliar at the desk after Pickering departs next week.
The surprise move is designed to make the show more ‘watercooler’ and help lift TEN’s primetime ratings share, and follows Bolt’s Sunday morning show being quietly extended from 30 to 60 minutes this year.
Charlie Pickering announced his departure earlier this month but while no permanent replacement was announced, TV Tonight understands testing has been underway at TEN’s Como building in South Yarra.
A TEN insider said, “Love him or loathe him, Andrew Bolt gets people talking and right now TEN realises that’s just what they need. Steve Price has worked well for the show so Bolter is the next logical step. It will all make sense after the Murdoch camp buys the network for a song.”
Roving Productions is understood to have agreed to more coverage of the Abbott government policies and less talk on climate change, while asylum seeker issues are off the table unless the story can elicit some tears from Carrie Bickmore -considered by producers to be ‘ratings gold.’
Bolt was coaxed into joining the show in order to take on “that reckless, unapologetic ABC”, before realising the public broadcaster actually out-rates Network TEN.
Meanwhile The Project is also expected to move back to a 6pm start to allow MasterChef to screen at 7pm. Sources suggest Programming never wanted to move its Reality shows to 7:30pm in the first place, but it was a decision made by an executive who was on pain killers at the time.
However the moves have also caused rumblings within The Project office, with a petition set to unroll at change.org and Peter Helliar threatening to start telling ‘Dad’ jokes in protest. Carrie Bickmore was more upbeat about the changes, overheard telling colleagues, “You think you got problems? I’m hosting a Dance show on shopping night! Compared to those ratings this show is practically Game of Thrones!”
TEN declined to comment on the details, simply saying, “The Project is in the top 15 shows for  13-29 year olds.
“We are in this for the long haul. “
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- Tagged with Game of Thrones, MasterChef Australia, The Bolt Report, The Project
131 Responses
This must be a April Fool’s joke,
PLease say that its so…………
You’ve set a high standard in other years so this is certainly nowhere near the best.
Wow, channel ten obviously learnt nothing from the ‘Breakfast’ Paul Henry debacle if this is the route they’re taking with The Project.
Since today is 1 April, is this April Fool’s joke?
This day does bring out the funnies.This is a good one,but just imagine if it were true
“Won’t somebody please think of the children”
Didn’t fool me.
Hahaha, very good David, almost got me going!
April 1 …
Too good David, almost had me for a minute there.
April Fool
If it were only not April Fools Day, I may have believed you.
I actually believed this until my husband pointed out the date. Goes to show I’ll believe anything I read about 10 right now!
Outrageous!!! I am writing to TEN right now!
Happy April Fools Day. 😀
Didn’t this happen last year? 😉
April 1
Nice one!
April Fools… Thanks David
Fail! Big mistake
@David knox
If this is as I truly hope, a good but slightly cruel April Fools day story, and if I am in too early with my comment, my contribution to your story, is that there is no need to post it, and if so, I am just as happy to watch the results
I knew it was a joke as soon as I saw the headline but still a very good idea for an April Fools joke nonetheless. Cheers David!
The really funny thing about this joke is that it would actually lift the ratings.
Dammit David you gave me a heart attack!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy April Fools!!
Best April Fool Joke so far, David.
Nice one, David. Read the headline & thought thats not true. You didn’t fool me. Love the yearly april fools article.