The minute Carrie Bickmore announced her resignation live on The Project last week, an all-out bidding war was ignited between rival networks and radio, a TV insider spills to Woman’s Day.
The 41-year-old shocked the country last Tuesday night when she tearily revealed she was stepping away from the nightly news program after being at the helm for 13 years.
“It’s been the hardest decision of my professional life… but it’s time for a new challenge and my next chapter,” she said. “I look forward to more family dinners and watching the show with my PJs on and a wine in hand.”
She announced her departure on-air.
(Image: Instagram)Carrie’s choice words around spending more time with her family sparked rumours she could be headed for a more manageable gig such as Nine’s A Current Affair or a role in breakfast TV. While many of the theories have already been debunked, one thing is for sure – everyone wants in!
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“Nine thinks Karl [Stefanovic] and Carrie would be great on Today to replicate the same chemistry and banter that Nat Barr and David Koch have over at Sunrise,” reveals our source.
“She’s funny when needed, but serious with the hard and emotional interviews – and executives believe Carrie and Karl could be the magic formula to finally knock Sunrise off its perch for good.”
The networks are competing for Carrie!
(Image: Instagram)The insider adds that the timing would also be perfect as current Today co-host Allison Langdon has long been campaigning for the top job on A Current Affair so she can spend more time with her young family. With Tracy Grimshaw set to walk away next month it all could effortlessly slot into place!
However, Nine could face some fierce competition, with TV Blackbox’s Rob McKnight saying it’s a real possibility that the Hit Network could be “priming” Carrie to host Sydney’s ailing breakfast slot.
“I have heard whispers that she’s already been offered $2 million a year to do a Sydney radio show with Tommy Little,” he said on his podcast, adding that it would be a significant pay rise to her rumoured $400,000 that she was earning on The Project.
“Television doesn’t have the kind of money that radio has. The big money is in radio, and I think that’s where her future is.”
The 2Day FM breakfast show, hosted by Dave Hughes, Ed Kavalee and Erin Molan, has consistently suffered in the ratings – and radio executives think Carrie has the talent to get it back on its feet and give KIIS FM’s Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O some stiff competition.
Now, the mystery of who will replace Carrie on The Project remains to be seen. Studio 10’s Sarah Harris and former Project panellist Gorgi Coghlan are currently the frontrunners.
