Peter Helliar's typically hilarious farewell
Peter Helliar has farewelled The Project just days after Carrie Bickmore’s last day on the show.
The comedian, who has been on the show for a long eight years, went out in style by being the subject of jokes from co-star Waleed Aly, as well as thank you messages from guest hosts.
Waleed reported on famous footballer Cristiano Ronaldo mentioning that he had “barely worked and still got paid … They call that the Helliar Method, don’t they?”
Tennis player and disability advocate Dylan Alcott thanked Peter for helping him appear on The Project regularly, saying he couldn’t have done it without him.
“I remember the first time that we met: I went up to you and told you about my vision of mainstreaming disability in the media,” Dylan recalled.
“A couple of weeks after that, you and I were sitting opposite each other on The Project desk. You were the one that organised that opportunity for me.”
A recorded message from Rove McManus was also played on the show, who jokingly blasted Peter for having his last show during the AACTA awards.
“Sorry I can‘t be there with you tonight. It’s just that you planned this the same night as the AACTA Awards. You IDIOT,” he said.
“What were you thinking?”
.@pjhelliar has signed off from The Project desk for the last time. Here's how he said goodbye after eight years on the show.#TheProjectTV pic.twitter.com/ZhtiuI2NR4
— The Project (@theprojecttv) December 7, 2022
Finally Peter thanked the production team and the audience, for their support over the past eight years.
“To the team who ploughed through news footage to find clips for me to show, you all had to watch way too much SKY News for that. I am forever in your debt,” he said.
“Lastly, to you, the audience, thank you for embracing my silliness, understanding my intentions and accepting my limitations.
“When I look through this lens of camera 4 I do actually believe I’m looking at you and I’m seeing you, so thanks for coming along for the ride.
“I inherited this chair for my great mate Dave Hughes, and they were big shoes to fill. So thank you for accepting me wearing a tie and a suit.
“I agree that the tie was a stupid idea for a long time.
“Now it’s time for somebody else to inherit this chair and I encourage you to get behind them, Sarah Harris will of course Waleed next year and onwards. The TV landscape is not as colourful without The Project in it.”
Image: The Project