Dave Hughes departs The Project as Peter Helliar steps up
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Helliar
Comedian Dave Hughes will leave The Project at the end of the year to embark on a stand-up comedy tour across the country, with Peter Helliar lined up to take his place.
Hughes has co-hosted The Project on Ten since it launched in July 2009, first as a half hour show The 7pm Project, and then as it expanded to become the hour long show also hosted by comedian Charlie Pickering and presenter Carrie Bickmore.
Hughes will still appear on The Project once a week in live crosses from his stand up tour across Australia.
The departure announced last night follows the end of Hughes’ top rating breakfast show on Nova 100 as he and co-host Kate Langbroek delivered their last show on the Melbourne station last month after 12 years on air.
It is a return to Ten for Helliar who was a co-host of Rove Live with Rove McManus for 10 years. Bickmore was also a co-host on the show from 2006.
Helliar also hosted ABC1 quiz show The Trophy Room and AFL show The Bounce on Seven, and created, co-produced and co-directed the eight part comedy series It’s a Date for ABC1, which has been renewed for a second season in 2014. Helliar also created romantic comedy feature films Mr Busby Married a Lesibian and its follow-up. I Love You Too.
He tweeted that he was “thrilled” about the new job.
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Dave Hughes
Dave is a gifted stand-up comedian, but I have found his appearances on The Project increasingly patchy over the last 12-18 months. There is a point where staring into the camera after playing a clip simply doesn’t get the automatic laughs any more, and I have little doubt that the producers felt the same way. He is also increasingly inclined to stumble with his delivery – initially endearing, but the remainder of the desk has become more polished over time and now it just seems like he isnt prepared for the show – perhaps because of his early starts with the radio show. Good luck, hughesy.
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Bring Hughesy back!
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I shall miss Dave Hughes’ gravelly voice and his funny delivery. I’ve enjoyed his way of looking at the camera after he’s delivered his funny lines. Actually he’s an original and a joy on camera.
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It’s simple “I only watch the Project because of Hughesy” It will not be the same without him. A agree Carrie and Charlie are very good on the show too but they make up the perfect Trio. You know what happens when one leaves the “band” they are never the same just look at all the splits with other celebrities especially with singing groups. Miss you already Hughesy, You are the Main Man
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He was the star of The Project, Hughesy set the show apart from any other news program, the other hosts seemed much more relaxed when he was on the desk. Helliar is lovable but only in really small doses. Shame to see Hughesy go, but will be at the Hughesy gig instead. Change is not always awesome. Merry Christmas then 🙂
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