The Project: Charlie Pickering Reveals Behind The Scenes Secrets 16/06/25

·22 min·2 clips

Husey yelled for an audience seconds before the first live show, forcing producers to rush people in.

Andrew Bucklow hosts Charlie Pickering to discuss The Project, which is concluding after nearly 16 years on Channel 10. Charlie explains that he was originally a writer on Rove Live and was not intended to host The Project; he and Carrie Bickmore were auditioning others when they got a chance to try out themselves. The idea for the show came from Craig Campbell, aiming for 'breakfast TV at night' with a comedic twist. During auditions, Charlie and Carrie grew bored and started improvising, leading to their selection as hosts alongside Husey. Charlie recalls the first episode in 2009, where Husey panicked about a missing audience, and producers had to rush people in. He notes that the show never had a clear identity but evolved over time. Charlie shares favorite guest moments, including Robin Williams, who engaged with the audience, and a promotional episode with Will Ferrell as Ron Burgundy. He also mentions a difficult interview with Johnny Rotten, who was rude to Carrie Bickmore. Reflecting on the show's end, Charlie expresses sadness for the talented crew and highlights The Project's role as a training ground for broadcasters like Waleed Aly. He praises the show's production value and its financial success. Charlie is open to making a cameo before the final episode. The interview concludes with a promotion of his current show, The Weekly with Charlie Pickering.

As heard by us

A loose, affectionate look at how The Project found its footing by not quite knowing what it was.

Charlie Pickering looks back on The Project as the Channel 10 show moves toward its end after almost 16 years, and the real pull is the mess behind the polish.

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Why you'd press play

For the accidental-host story behind The Project.

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