How Waleed Aly found out The Project was cancelled after 16 years: 'It was the hardest day'
After more than a decade fronting The Project, Waleed Aly is bracing himself for life after prime-time TV and the reality of being home in time for dinner.
Speaking to Stellar, the 46-year-old broadcaster revealed that while he had a little more notice than some, the show's cancellation still came as a sudden shock.
'I only knew for less than a week before it was public. So it was all fairly sudden,' he said.
'The hardest day was definitely the day it was announced – that's when you are in the room with all your colleagues. People that you've worked with, in some cases, for more than a decade.'
While Aly admitted the situation isn't unique to the television industry, he said the emotional weight of the announcement was felt deeply - especially by his own family.
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'That's what's added to the emotional weight of all this, because my kids grew up through this show,' he said. 'And talking to the kids about it was actually harder than I expected. It hit them in a way that I didn't quite anticipate.'
Aly, who shares two children - Aisha, 22, and Zayd, 18 – with wife Susan Carland, said returning to a regular home routine is a bittersweet adjustment.
After years of missing family dinners due to his evening work schedule, he's preparing for a lifestyle shift that includes more cooking – and plenty of cleaning.
'I look forward to cooking more but it's scary contemplating the mountains of dishes I will have to get through. It's hard to see past them,' he said.
Aly also acknowledged that his children are now young adults and likely beyond the age of wanting to spend much time with their parents, making the show's end feel like a missed opportunity to reclaim lost time.
Despite the changes, Aly said he recognises that job losses and major career shifts are a part of life across all industries.
'This isn't a unique experience to us,' he added. '[It] happens across lots of industries and in lots of workplaces. It's sad every time.'
The Project will air its final episode with Aly on Friday night.
The Project would be pulled from the schedule after 16 years and more than 4,500 episodes.
Its final episode is set to air on June 27, and will be replaced by a single national 6pm news bulletin.
Meanwhile, Channel Ten is moving forward with its major re-brand as the network prepares to launch a new current affairs show.
The Project hosts Waleed Aly, Sarah Harris and Hamish Macdonald are set to exit the network, while comedian Taunton will continue his guest appearances on other Ten shows.
The last episode will air on June 27, with the panel show being replaced by a new current affairs show.
After announcing The Project was ending last Monday, Ten released another statement announcing its new look news program.
The premium news program, titled 10 NEWS+, is set to hit screens on Monday, June 30, at 6pm on Channel 10 and 10Play.
10 NEWS+ will be broadcast across the country after Network 10's 5pm local news bulletins, offering a deeper analysis of some of the biggest stories of the day.
According to Paramount Australia, the segment aims to 'redefine evening news by providing comprehensive analysis, trusted reporting, and long-form investigative journalism'.
Keeping up with Australia's constantly evolving mediascape, the news program will be available via broadcast and streaming, as well as on digital and social platforms.
The show's lineup will include former 7News journalist Denham Hitchcock and Walkley Award-winner Amelia Brace, who will be regular faces during the 6pm bulletin from Sunday to Thursday.
Ursula Heger and Hugh Riminton will take the lead during the Friday broadcast.
The anchor team will be supported by reporters including Ashleigh Raper, Bill Hogan, Brianna Parkins, Samantha Butler, Carrie-Anne Greenbank, and Claudia Vrdoljak.
Ten's Entertainment Editor Angela Bishop will also
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