Lisa Wilkinson steps down from The Project after ‘relentless, targeted toxicity’
Lisa Wilkinson has stepped down from her role on The Project, effective immediately after she announced the shock exit on Sunday night’s program episode describing the last six months as complex and marked by “relentless, targeted toxicity”.
“It’s time to reprioritise a few things in my life,” adding, “after almost 15 years of the early alarm on breakfast TV, and now another five years here at the Project desk, I’m looking at how I want the coming years to play out, both professionally and personally.
After five years at the desk, @Lisa_Wilkinson will be the leaving The Project. Here is the moment she made the announcement.#TheProjectTV pic.twitter.com/2nEc1kbTcI
— The Project (@theprojecttv) November 20, 2022
“So, from tonight, I’m stepping back from hosting the show.”
A Network 10 spokesperson said: “Network 10 would like to confirm that Lisa Wilkinson has tonight announced that she is stepping away from The Project effective immediately.
“Wilkinson has been a wonderful host and important contributor to The Project for five years and as the end of the year approaches, Lisa feels it is the right time for her to take a break. We look forward to her continued work with the network in 2023, where we can capitalise, particularly, on her superb interviewing skills.”
Paramount Australia and New Zealand executive vice president and chief content officer, Beverley McGarvey added: “I would like to sincerely thank Lisa Wilkinson for her outstanding contribution to The Sunday Project and The Project. For five years now Lisa has brought experience and professionalism, as well as her signature warmth, compassion and integrity to both shows.
“In her time with the show, she has continued to expose, present and report on a variety of ground-breaking and Walkley-nominated stories, both from the studio and out on the road. I know it is a role that Lisa has loved and embraced from day one.
“Lisa has brought her trademark intelligence, humour, empathy and sense of justice to everything she has done, and it is no surprise audiences have continued to welcome her into their loungerooms and onto their screens.
“I know she will be sorely missed both by our audience and the entire Project team, and whilst we are saddened that Lisa will no longer be on The Project, we look forward to continuing our strong relationship with Lisa into 2023 and beyond.”
Wilkinson follows a slew of high-profile female reporters who have stepped down from their roles this year.
Host of 7.30, the ABC’s nightly current affairs program, Leigh Sales stepped down in late June, after an 11-year tenure in the role.
Months later, after a career that spanned more than 40 years, Tracy Grimshaw announced she is stepping down from presenting A Current Affair at the end of this year after 17 years in the hosting chair.
The following month in October, The Project also revealed that Carrie Bickmore would be departing the show after 13 years.
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