Peter Helliar made a surprising return to The Sunday Project this weekend.
The comedian, who sensationally quit the current affairs series in 2022, appeared on the desk alongside Michael Hing, Max Rushden and Sarah Harris.
‘It’s our globetrotting mate, Pete Helliar, on the desk!’ the veteran was introduced, before explaining what brought him back to his old stomping ground for a guest appearance for Sunday’s episode.
‘I had to come back from Argentina because I’ve not put in my vote in for marsupial of the year’ Peter, who has spent time travelling recently, joked.
‘The Wi-Fi wasn’t good on the Inca Trail. I’m a hairy-nosed wombat guy. They twerk people to death’.
Peter then settled right into the show, presenting stories and joking with the new cast like old friends.
His fans were delighted, with several sharing their thoughts on social media.
‘Great! You need to return permanently!’ wrote one person while someone else said: ‘Should be the co-host’.
Peter Helliar made a surprising return to The Sunday Project this weekend. The comedian, who sensationally quit the current affairs series in 2022, appeared on the desk alongside Michael Hing, Max Rushden and Sarah Harris. All pictured
Peter earlier revealed the real reason why he quit The Project as the mass exodus from the struggling Channel Ten show continues.
The 49-year-old announced he was leaving the show two years ago, and at the time explained he decided to quit following the departure of his co-host Carrie Bickmore.
‘Carrie, you recently said that you are glad you’re leaving The Project while you still love it and I still love the show. I really do,’ he said.
‘[The Project] means a lot to me. It’s done amazing things for me. I interviewed Luke Skywalker once… and I look forward to see what the show is in the future.’
‘It’s our globetrotting mate, Pete Helliar, on the desk!’ the veteran was introduced, before explaining what brought him back to his old stomping ground for a guest appearance
Peter also said he’s excited to be moving into ‘new areas’ in the New Year and didn’t want to be ‘a creator who leaves meetings to go to another meeting’.
He also told Nova’s Fitzy & Wippa that he wants to ‘do things with my life professionally and personally’.
‘[There are] things I want to do with my life, not just professionally but personally and I’ve already booked into the ashes in London next year,’ he said.
‘It’s not just 10 years on the project. But before that is like 10 years on Rove Live in the office every day.’
The Project was rocked by two other high-profile exits in late 2022.
Lisa Wilkinson announced she was quitting effective immediately, and long-time anchor Carrie confirmed her departure a month prior.
‘I have decided it’s time to reprioritise a few things in my life,’ Wilkinson began alongside co-hosts Hamish Macdonald and The Bachelor’s Laura Byrne.
Peter was part of a mass exodus from the program in 2022. Pictured the old line up including Waleed Aly, Carrie Bickmore, Lisa Wilkinson and Peter
‘And after almost 15 years of the early alarm of breakfast TV, and now another five years here at The Project desk, I’m looking at how I want the coming years to play out both professionally and personally.’
Lisa’s exit came after a controversial year for the television presenter, during which she was taken off air following her disastrous Logies speech that resulted in a rape trial being delayed.
In October that year, Lisa’s co-star Bickmore announced her departure from The Project after 12 years on air.
Bickmore had been absent for a three month ‘sabbatical’ with her family in London earlier this year, before returning to the panel in July, only to quit in October.
Peter had followed good friend Carrie out the door
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