Lisa Wilkinson has shared a moving tribute to Carrie Bickmore after the Gold Logie winner announced she was leaving The Project.
The beloved TV presenter fought back tears as she told viewers it was the hardest decision she had to make in her professional life on Tuesday.
In a sweet Instagram tribute, Lisa shared a photo of the couple riding their bikes with a sweet caption describing their long friendship.
Lisa Wilkinson has shared a moving tribute to Carrie Bickmore after the Gold Logie winner announced she was leaving The Project on Tuesday. In a cute Instagram post, Lisa shared a photo of the couple riding their bikes with a sweet caption describing their friendship. Both pictured
“Long before Carrie Bickmore and I were colleagues on The Project, we were off-air friends working on different networks,” she explained.
“And I feel so lucky to have now shared the last five years in the project office with you, Carrie,” she continued.
She went on to explain that Carrie’s friendship and generosity “meant the world.”
“Thank you also for your guidance and support from day one…and for always knowing just the right time to reach out with a kind word,” she continued.
“Long before Carrie Bickmore and I were colleagues on The Project, we were off-air friends working on different networks,” Lisa explained. “And I feel so lucky to have also shared the last five years in the project office with you, Carrie,” she continued.
Lisa added she was “admiring” the way Carrie managed to juggle a 13-year career as an “awesome mum”, “journalist” and “charity patron”.
“We mere mortals will never know how you did it all with such grace, good humor and all that glamour,” she added.
“I know what a huge decision this has been for you, and we will miss you terribly at the end of the year. I can’t wait to see what’s next in your amazing life, or share that next drink of wine – or five – with you!
“All my love and admiration, always,” she added.
“Thank you also for your guidance and support from day one…and for always knowing just the right time to reach out with a kind word,” she continued. “We mere mortals will never know how you did it all with such grace, good humor and all that glamour”
Lisa paid tribute to Carried, saying her ‘friendship’ meant the world to her
Comedian Susie Youssef quickly joined Lisa’s tribute, writing, “You are amazing Carrie Bickmore – we will miss you so much”.
And the announcement was quickly inundated with supporters.
“Congratulations superstar! We will miss you on The Project, but we look forward to all the fabulous things to come,” wrote Channel 10 entertainment reporter Angela Bishop.
“Congratulations Carrie! You are an absolute cornerstone of Australian television and we all love and miss you on our screens,” added Abbie Chatfield.
‘Huge Congratulations on a Huge Love of Achievement!’ wrote Rebecca Gibney, alongside clapping hand and red love heart emojis.
‘What a woman you are. Grace, strength, humor, humility. Can’t wait to join you for wine when the dust settles,” Amanda Keller wrote.
“Congratulations on a job well done, honey. You have sailed beautifully in this role for 13 years and you will no doubt do the same for the next chapter. Lots of love,” added Megan Gale.
Channel Seven’s Kylie Gillies also shared some kind words, which were quickly echoed by other network stars.
“Difficult decisions are always fabulous once you’ve made them. I bet you feel that way now. Such admiration for you all around. Superstar mom, presenter and wife,’ Kylie wrote
‘Big love Carrie. A pleasure to watch and work with you on the show,’ added Sam Mac, Sunrise’s meteorologist.
‘Congratulations on an incredible tenure! Here comes your next exciting adventure! Lots of love xxx,’ This Is Your Life host Melissa Doyle added.
Carrie’s announcement was quickly inundated with supporters
Chris Walker also paid tribute, calling Carrie “super brave”
The Gold Logie winner has been a panelist on the show for 13 years and on the project desk since the program launched in 2009.
“I have some news that I wanted to share…shit, I’m already crying,” she began.
“I made the difficult decision to finish hosting the show at the end of the year.
“It was the hardest decision of my professional life to make this call, but it’s time for a new challenge and for my next chapter.”
Bickmore said she will miss her “buddies on the desk” and the “wonderful viewers” who have supported the show for more than a decade.
“It’s no secret that this show has become a second home to me, and I couldn’t be more grateful to everyone involved on and off screen,” she said. .
‘It’s been a long journey. I started the show when Ollie, my son, was one, and he’s now 15, which is crazy. And I want to spend more time at home.
Bickmore has been on the project desk since the program launched in 2009
Bickmore (pictured at the Logies in 2019) said leaving The Project was the hardest decision she had to make in her professional career
“I want to have more family dinners. I’ll be watching the show at home with a glass of wine in my hand. Just wanted to say a huge thank you.
“It has been an incredible privilege.”
Bickmore said that while she enjoyed her “fulfilling” job, she wanted to know who she was without The Project.
“This show is so in my DNA, and I don’t know who I am without it,” she said.
The mother-of-three shares two children, Evie and Adelaide, with partner Chris Walker, but her eldest son Ollie is from her first marriage to her late husband Greg Lange, who sadly died of brain cancer in 2010.
In March, Bickmore announced that she would take a few months to travel around Europe with her children, while mainly based in London.
The 41-year-old presenter shares three children; Oliver, Evie and Adelaide with partner Chris Walker. The couple have been married for nearly a decade
Bickmore told viewers that while she loved her “fulfilling” work, she wanted to know who she was without The Project.
“We wanted to do this for a while but [the] the timing hasn’t been right, but we think it’s never going to be the perfect time to go,’ she told The Project.
“It’s something we really want to do before my son starts his final years at school, so we’re doing the second term in the UK. So I will be away for a few months,” she added.
The family sold their five-bedroom family home in Melbourne just days before announcing their extended leave.
Carrie’s decision to go into journalism was inspired by her father, who worked in radio for 24 years but once dreamed of being a ballerina.
Brian Bickmore is one of the founders of the Austereo network and worked in radio in Adelaide and Melbourne for 24 years before retiring in 2004.
Bickmore won the Gold Logie for Australia’s most popular TV personality in 2015 and used her acceptance speech to honor her late husband Greg, who died of brain cancer three years after the birth of their son Ollie.
She donned a bright blue beanie as she spoke of her desire to raise awareness of the disease, which she says has killed eight out of ten people diagnosed.
Bickmore won the Gold Logie for Australia’s most popular TV personality in 2015 and used her acceptance speech to honor her late husband Greg, who died of brain cancer.
Bickmore has been married to partner Chris Walker for nearly a decade
“In 2010, my husband Greg was one of the unluckiest. And after a long, long, long battle, he died of brain cancer,” she told the audience.
“For ten years I watched him suffer multiple seizures a day, lose feeling on one side of his body. He was an incredibly brave man, he was a wonderful father.
“He was a great husband and a great brother. And he was a great friend. But he shouldn’t have gone through that. Nobody should have to go through that.
“Throughout his cancer journey, he wore a lot of hats – he wore a lot of beanies. And that was because he felt embarrassed about his scars and his head.
“And I was like, ‘Don’t be embarrassed, the scars are really, really cool’. And the beanies are also really cool.
Bickmore called on “everyone who works in television” to wear a beanie the next day.
Carrie was backed by her co-hosts after announcing she would be stepping down from her role at The Project at the end of 2022