Waleed Aly says he ‘led The Project into a ditch’ as Peter Helliar returns to pays emotional tribute to his former co-star on second last show

Peter Helliar has returned to The Project as the axed show aired its second last episode on Thursday night. 

The comedian and former panellist, who quit the show in 2022, paid heartfelt tribute to his former co-star Waleed Aly. 

‘I will say this to you, Waleed, in particular. I’m a better person for having you in my life. I really mean that’ an emotional Peter said. 

‘You are an incredible human being a great mate’ he continued. 

‘It’s been extraordinary to be on the desk with you… And Carrie (Bickmore), we shared a lot of those years together, seeing you doing your thing and doing it so well.’

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Peter Helliar (pictured) has returned to The Project as the axed show aired its second last episode on Thursday night

The comedian and former panellist, who quit the show in 2022, paid heartfelt tribute to his former co-star Waleed Aly 

Gorgi Coghlan, also a former star of the show, likewise appeared on the episode and paid her own tribute to Waleed for his gusto in leading the show for a decade.  

‘I reiterate what Pete said, siting next to you every single night, being able to do this show was a master class in how to be an extraordinary human’ she said.

‘Thank you for everything that you’ve done for all of us, because you have led this show from go to woe and just been such an honour to sit next to you’. 

A coy Waleed chimed in with a joke: ‘I think you would agree I ultimately led it into a ditch!’ 

After more than a decade fronting The Project, Waleed 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.’

Gorgi Coghlan (right), also a former star of the show, likewise appeared on the episode and paid her own tribute to Waleed for his gusto in leading the show for a decade

A coy Waleed chimed in with a joke: ‘I think you would agree I ultimately led it into a ditch!’

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.

‘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.’

After more than a decade fronting The Project, Waleed is bracing himself for life after prime-time TV and the reality of being home in time for dinner 

The Project will air its final episode with Aly on Friday night.

The Project has been pulled from the schedule after 16 years and more than 4,500 episodes. 

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. 

Its final episode is set to air on June 27, and will be replaced by a single national 6pm news show.

The premium news program, titled 10 NEWS+, is set to hit screens on Monday, June 30, at 6pm on Channel 10 and 10Play,