Lisa Wilkinson made waves last October when she announced her shock departure from the Today show.
Now, Channel Ten's The Project has unveiled two new TV spots promoting the former breakfast presenter's upcoming co-host role on the show.
Still smiling, Lisa Wilkinson in October after departing Channel Nine. Photo: Christopher Pearce
One promo features current host Peter Helliar repeatedly making incorrect guesses for The Project's newest addition, as other hosts Waleed Aly and Carrie Bickmore become increasingly exasperated.
Another shows all three hosts performing a comedic interview on Wilkinson, who then proceeds to list her achievements.
"I'm a journalist, broadcaster, mother, former magazine editor, youth campaigner, women's advocate...and a member of the Order of Australia," she says in the ad.
The current
Project panel didn't hesitate in expressing their excitement after it was announced last year that Wilkinson was moving to Channel Ten.
"I have always really loved Lisa and it is nice to be able to contractually say it now," joked Aly on air.
Bickmore also sounded off on Instagram, congratulating Wilkinson on "an incredible stint at
Today."
Prior to her departure, Wilkinson had hosted the
Today show for a decade. She left after a lengthy negotiation where Channel Nine failed to meet her demands to be paid the same amount as her
Today show partner Karl Stefanovic.
"If she got what she wanted we would have had to cut 10 producers' jobs," a Channel Nine insider
told Fairfax last year.
Wilkinson is reportedly receiving a salary from Channel Ten even higher than Stefanovic's $2 million paycheck, which would make her the
highest-paid female host in Australia.
Ten has yet to announce her other appearances in their programming, but previous comments have compared her to American presenter Diane Sawyer and hinted at her role as a big-name interviewer.
She will appear on
The Project three nights a week after January 26. The show itself returns next Tuesday.
