Peter Helliar reflects on the emotional impact of The Project’s cancellation after eight years.

Peter Helliar has revealed the emotional toll the shock axing of Channel Ten’s The Project has had on himself and his former co-workers.

Appearing on Nova’s Jase and Lauren on Tuesday, the veteran presenter, who co-hosted the panel show from 2014 – 2022, admitted he was devastated over the cancellation.

‘Really sad. What an amazing legacy that show has, 16 years. Very few shows get to the second season. This was like the little engine that could,’ he said.

‘In its first year, it was going to get axed every second week. And 16 years later to see that the people have become household names who have gone through that show!’

Helliar, who quit the show in 2022, the same year Carrie Bickmore, Tommy Little and Lisa Wilkinson also left, said he believes the axing will leave a huge gap in Australian television.

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‘I don’t think audiences realise what they’ll miss out on now. The amount of comedians, musicians and filmmakers who have said to me over the years “The Project was the reason we sold tickets.” That’s missing now,’ he said.

He added that several of his former Project colleagues told him they had a ‘really hard day’ upon hearing the news.

The Project was officially axed on Monday after 16 years on air and will air its final episode on June 27.

Network 10 announced the news by sharing a post to Facebook thanking viewers for their support before announcing the show’s replacement.

Current hosts Waleed Aly, Sarah Harris and Hamish Macdonald will exit the network, while comedian Sam Taunton will continue his guest appearances on other Ten shows.

The news show, which has been in a ratings free-fall since Bickmore left her seat as host at the end of 2022, has aired ‘nearly 4,500 episodes’ to date and will wrap up in three weeks.

Daily Mail Australia previously revealed The Project was under review and set to be axed on March 16.

A picture was shared online of Aly, Harris, Taunton and Georgie Tunny smiling as they sat together behind the news desk. 

‘The Project will finish up on June 27. For nearly 16 years, The Project has been Australia’s destination for the news when you want a little bit of a giggle,’ the caption said.

‘Well, we have loved every second but all good things come to an end and so are we.

‘To everyone who has watched, supported, donated money to help families across Australia, worked on the show or just liked a social post. Thank you.’

Harris also spoke about the cancellation and her subsequent exit from the network.

‘There aren’t many jobs where you get to tell very human stories, and interview politicians and celebrities all while having a laugh – or ugly crying – in front of a live studio audience every night,’ Harris told The Sydney Morning Herald.

Aly also released a statement, saying: ‘The Project kicked down the door of how news could be done.’

After announcing The Project was ending, Ten released another statement announcing the news program which will be replacing the axed show.

Recently poached Seven journalists Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace are expected to host the new evening program.

The Project first aired in July 2009 and exceeded more than a million metro viewers at the height of its success – It boasted a rotating panel with stars like Aly, Harris, Tunny, Hamish Macdonald, Rove McManus, Taunton and Susie Youssef.

It won several accolades including 11 Logie Awards – two of which were viewer-voted Gold Logies won by Aly and Bickmore.

However, audiences began to dwindle in recent years – Just last week, The Project attracted between 238,000 and 357,000 viewers nationally.