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Lisa Wilkinson ‘takes a break’ from The Sunday Project after weeks of bad press and low ratings – as Channel 10 staffers ‘hope her absence will reverse the show’s fortunes’
The Project’s ‘$1.7million woman’ Lisa Wilkinson was noticeably absent from The Sunday Project yesterday, and she won’t be returning for three weeks.
The veteran journalist, 61, is not scheduled to return until December 5, reports The Australian, but Channel 10 is denying her absence has anything to do with the show’s poor ratings or the negative publicity surrounding Lisa’s new autobiography.
The program’s audience has declined sharply ever since Lisa sat down for a fawning interview with co-host Hamish Macdonald on October 10 to discuss her 2017 sacking from Channel Nine over a gender pay gap dispute.
Time off: The Project’s ‘$1.7million woman’ Lisa Wilkinson was noticeably absent from The Sunday Project yesterday, and she won’t be returning for three weeks
A 10 spokesperson said Lisa’s break was unrelated to The Project’s ratings or headlines surrounding her new book, It Wasn’t Meant to Be Like This.
She is instead taking time off ahead of the Christmas-New Year period when she will fill in as main weekday host while Carrie Bickmore is on holiday.
However, sources say some staffers at Channel 10 are hoping Lisa’s absence will be a ‘circuit-breaker’ that helps boost the show’s poor ratings.
Sympathetic: The program’s audience has declined sharply ever since Lisa sat down for a fawning interview with co-host Hamish Macdonald on October 10 to discuss her 2017 sacking from Channel Nine over a gender pay gap dispute
It comes after several details in promotional extracts for Lisa’s book were disputed by media insiders and her former employer Channel Nine.
There is a particularly contentious chapter dedicated to her sacking from Nine and falling out with former Today show co-host Karl Stefanovic.
Lisa maintains Karl earned double her salary to do the same job, and that when she asked for a pay rise she was unceremoniously sacked.
But it has since been claimed Lisa actually earned more than Karl for years when they first joined forces on the breakfast program in 2007.
Break: The veteran journalist, 61, is not scheduled to return until December 5, reports The Australian, but Channel 10 is denying her absence has anything to do with the show’s poor ratings or the negative publicity surrounding Lisa’s new autobiography. Pictured from left: The Project hosts Waleed Aly, Carrie Bickmore, Lisa Wilkinson and Peter Helliar
Lisa’s pay demands have also been disputed: Nine insists she had unreasonable expectations, while she says she simply asked for a fairer share of the show’s profits.
The debate surrounding these claims has dominated headlines for the past few weeks and has no doubt been a headache for Channel 10 execs.
Lisa earns a reported $1.7million per year for her work on The Project and its Sunday edition, but is rumoured to be getting a pay cut due to the low ratings.
Dispute: It comes after details in promotional extracts for Lisa’s book were disputed by media insiders and her former employer Channel Nine. There is a particularly contentious chapter dedicated to her sacking from Nine and falling out with ex-Today co-host Karl Stefanovic (left)
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