The Project: Dr Chris Brown jumps ship from Channel 10 to Seven Network

Dr Chris Brown has quit Channel 10 after 15 years, becoming the latest high-profile star to jump ship at the struggling network. 

The 44-year-old has signed a deal with Seven and will officially join in July to produce ‘new projects’ for Channel Seven and 7Plus.

Dr Chris first joined Ten in 2008 to host Bondi Vet, which became a surprise ratings hit and was syndicated around the world.

The factual series was based on his real-life experience as a vet at the Bondi Junction Veterinary Hospital in Sydney’s east.

He went on to become a part-time panelist on The Project and also co-hosted I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and The Living Room, which was axed last year.

The move to Seven is a homecoming of sorts for Dr Chris.

Dr Chris first joined Ten in 2008 to host Bondi Vet, which became a surprise ratings hit and was syndicated around the world, including on Animal Planet

He started his TV career in 2003 as a presenter on Harry’s Practice on Seven, a role that earned him a Logie nomination for Most Popular New Talent.

The Sydney University graduate never planned to work in the media, but was discovered by a talent scout telling animal stories over a few beers in a pub.

His passion for animals started as a child growing up in Newcastle where his father Graeme was the local vet.

In between working for Seven and Ten, Dr Chris did a stint at Nine hosting segments for Burke’s Backyard, and was also a contributor to the Today show.

Chris will join Seven once he has finished his contractual obligations at Ten, including hosting the next season of I’m a Celebrity. 

He went on to become a part-time panelist on The Project and also co-hosted I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and The Living Room, which was axed last year

He said in a statement: ‘I’m not entirely sure my old access pass works, but once we get over that hurdle and I’m back from the jungle, I can’t wait to sink my teeth into some exciting new projects in the second half of the year and beyond with Seven.’

James Warburton, Seven West Media’s managing director and CEO, added: ‘We are very pleased to welcome Chris back to Seven. It’s been too long.

‘Chris is one of the most popular and recognised people on Australian TV, bringing warmth, intelligence and a great sense of humour to everything he does.

‘We can’t wait to have him on board and to announce the great new content he will star in.’

Dr Chris’ move to Seven was referenced on Sunrise on Thursday, with host David Koch saying weatherman Sam Mac had ‘lured’ his good friend over with promises of lavish expenses.

‘It’s very exciting to have Chris joining the team. He heard about the per diems we get at Sunrise and was jumping at it. You don’t get that at Ten!’ he said.

Later, during the hand-over to The Morning Show, Larry Emdur even joked Dr Chris was going to take his job. 

Dr Chris (pictured with Seven West Media CEO James Warburton) has signed a deal with Seven and will join the company in July to produce ‘new projects’ for Channel Seven and 7Plus

Dr Chris is the latest in a string of major departures from Ten, following the exits of The Project hosts Carrie Bickmore, Lisa Wilkinson and Peter Helliar.

Senior staff have also been following the on-air talent out the door, including the network’s long-serving publicity boss Sarah ‘SJ’ Johnson.

Dejected employees said last year the station feels like ‘a sinking ship’ and the workplace is ‘lacking direction and morale’ – although network reps insist Ten’s parent company Paramount Global is in good financial shape.

Chris will join Seven once he has finished his contractual obligations at Ten, including hosting the next season of I’m a Celebrity with Julia Morris (right) 

‘There are going to be a lot more resignations to come… Ten feels a bit like a sinking ship,’ one staffer told Daily Mail Australia, adding that morale had been on a critical slide ‘for some time’.

‘It feels kind of rudderless. Like there’s not a lot of direction and the network can’t seem to figure out exactly what it wants to be.’

Adding to the general discontent is the network’s hit-and-miss programming which leans heavily on reality TV formats, another staffer said.

‘Some like Survivor and, at a pinch, MasterChef, work but a lot of them don’t,’ the source said. ‘There seems to be so much that bombs.’

Dr Chris is the latest in a string of major departures from Ten, following the exits of The Project hosts Lisa Wilkinson, Peter Helliar and Carrie Bickmore (pictured)