For the second time in just a few months, one of the most in-demand jobs in Australian television is up for grabs.

Following the departure of Tracy Grimshaw from A Current Affair, Carrie Bickmore has announced she is leaving The Project after 13 years at the desk.

Who will replace Carrie Bickmore on The Project? Could Georgie Tunny, Jan Fran or Abbie Chatfield be in the mix?

“It’s been the hardest decision of my professional life to make this call, but it’s time for a new challenge,” a tearful Bickmore told The Project on Tuesday night.

“I’m going to miss my best mates on the desk, the job itself, which is just so incredibly fulfilling, our wonderful viewers who’ve been on the journey over the last 13 years.”

Appointing a replacement for Bickmore is an increasingly important decision for Network Ten, especially given The Project’s less-than-stellar ratings in 2022.

But who will fill Bickmore’s shoes on The Project? Let’s take a look at some possible contenders.

Chrissie Swan

A favourite at Network Ten, Swan is a longtime Project regular and currently appears each Thursday as a guest. Upping Swan’s stock is the fact she filled in this year when Bickmore announced that she would be taking a three-month sabbatical from the show.

Chrissie Swan and Georgie Tunny both filed in Carrie Bickmore during her absence and could easily step up to full time hosting.

Viewers are familiar with Swan, which would make the transition less jarring, but it could be tricky logistically. The Project films five nights a week, and Swan already has a weekday breakfast radio show on Nova 100 in Melbourne.

Jan Fran

Another Project panellist who could be in line for a promotion to host, Jan Fran is currently the guest on The Sunday Project, filmed in Sydney. A Walkley award-winning journalist, Fran could be a smart pick in that her skill set marries up with The Project’s vibe of news delivered differently.

Lisa Wilkinson

It hasn’t been the smoothest year for Lisa Wilkinson on The Project. In June, the 62-year-old won the Logie for most outstanding news coverage or public affairs report for her work on the Brittany Higgins story.

It’s been a long year for Lisa Wilkinson, but perhaps a step up be a fresh start?Credit:Ten

However, following Wilkinson’s televised acceptance speech, ACT supreme court chief justice Lucy McCallum found that “the distinction between an allegation and finding of guilt has been completely obliterated in the discussion”.

This triggered a three-month delay in the trial. Wilkinson took a short break from The Project in the aftermath of the decision but has since returned to host the program on Fridays and Sundays. Despite a rocky year, Wilkinson remains an asset for Ten and a tested prospect at the desk.

Georgie Tunny

If the big brass at Ten is keen to roll the dice on a fresher-but-less-familiar face, then Georgie Tunny could be a calculated gamble. In August, Tunny joined The Project full-time as a “producer and reporter” but has increasingly spent time on the desk, also filling in for Bickmore.

Abbie Chatfield

Perhaps a little left field, but there’s no denying that Chatfield has built a strong audience by sharing her strong opinions. Chatfield boasts nearly half a million followers on Instagram and, at 27 years, would be almost the same age Bickmore was when she started on the show in 2009.

Chatfield has runs on the board with a successful radio show on the Hit Network and her famous It’s A Lot pod. Also, imagine her with Steve Price.

Susie Youssef

Youssef has proven herself to be a reliable all-rounder for The Project as a a regular Friday panellist and occasional fill-in. A comedian by trade, Youssef has shown she also has the chops to nail the high-profile interviews, having recently spoken with John Legend for the program.

Tracy Grimshaw

No one would see it coming. Grimshaw replaces Bickmore. Bickmore takes over at A Current Affair. The TV version of musical chairs.

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