NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Entertainment

The Project: Tearful goodbye as hosts of Three TV show say goodnight for final time

NZ Herald
1 Dec, 2023 08:20 AM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

The demise of Three's flagship 7pm show was announced this year. Photo / Three

The demise of Three's flagship 7pm show was announced this year. Photo / Three

The hosts of Three’s 7pm weekday show The Project shared their favourite moments and interviews after seven years on air as the show signed off for the final time on Friday night.

Main hosts Jesse Mulligan, Kanoa Lloyd and Jeremy Corbett were joined by Jaquie Brown, Mark Richardson, Paddy Gower, and Kate Roger and a full studio audience to recall their favourite experiences on the show over the past seven years.

Corbett spoke of the fundraising effort for the Anti-P Ministry bus after it initially broke down.

“They needed $15,000 to fix it,” Corbett said.

“They were up to $5000 when we started the show, and by the end of the show we had raised $30,000.”

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Mulligan said, “I could have picked any one of a thousand moments, but one I thought of today was when we did a take-off of Wayne’s World’s Bohemian Rhapsody.”

Jesse, Kanoa, and Jeremy share their favourite moments from seven years of 7pm! pic.twitter.com/HcijVHCEHu

— The Project NZ (@TheProject_NZ) December 1, 2023

Lloyd became emotional when talking about how The Project had changed her life.

“I have reconnected with my whakapapa, I have travelled the world, I have become a mother, and I have met some really incredible people,” she said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

“But most of all, I am going to miss the wonderful people here. My brothers on the desk, and you. Thank you so much for watching us.”

News broke in October that the show was being axed by Warner Bros. Discovery, affecting about 24 staff.

“We have commenced consultation to discontinue The Project on Three from the end of the year — our primary focus is to support our people as we work through this process,” a Warner Bros. Discovery spokesperson said.

Party correspondent Patrick Gower joins us live from the function... pic.twitter.com/pR22vjqbvW

— The Project NZ (@TheProject_NZ) December 1, 2023

The show — which first hit Kiwi screens in February 2017 — is filmed in front of a live studio audience in a building near Three’s main HQ in Auckland and is based on an Australian franchise of the same name.

Tributes from many of the roving hosts were shared on social media on Friday morning.

Nadine Higgins led the way, posting a video montage on her Instagram from moments over the years including on-air snippets and snaps from behind the scenes with Mulligan, Lloyd, Josh Thomson, Justine Smith and Brown.

The award-winning journalist and broadcaster wrote a lengthy caption alongside her touching video, admitting it’s “so bloody sad to see The Project end tomorrow”.

“I’ve been so lucky to get to be a part of the show and hang out with its crazily talented team for the past 7 years. Walking into that studio is like meeting up with old friends. It is always a laugh a minute — on and off air — but despite the humour, I love that they have never shied away from the tough stuff.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nadine Higgins (@nadinehiggins.nz)

She signed off, adding, “Massive respect for what they’ve done, night after night, and the grace they’re ending with. Looking forward to giving them all a wonderful send-off tomorrow.”

It earned a reply from Lloyd, who commented, “What a ride! Thanks for everything x”, as well as plenty of fans who expressed their sadness that the show is ending, including one who wrote, “Totally agree. I’m gutted as I enjoy watching The Project so much.”

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Higgins’ tribute is one of many that have hit social media since the announcement the show will be discontinued. After the news, revolving host and comedian Brown posted to her Instagram account saying it was the “best job with the best people”.

“I look forward to seeing what they all do next because when you’re as funny, smart and empathetic as Kanoa, Jesse & Jeremy* — you can’t keep them down for long,” she said alongside a carousel of photos with the hosts.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by JaquieBrown (@jaquiebrown)

Elsewhere, the AM Show paid tribute to their colleagues one day after Herald editor-at-large Shayne Currie broke the news.

Three is understood to pay a hefty international licensing fee for the use of The Project brand. Currie reported the move would give Three a blank canvas to build a less expensive primetime show.

Opening their October 27 show, host Melissa Chan-Green kicked things off with a message to her colleagues at the broadcaster: “We just want to start with something a little from the heart this morning,” she said with her co-host Ryan Bridge beside her nodding.

“You may have seen the news about The Project and we just want to acknowledge this morning our colleagues there because they’re our friends too,” she said adding, “We want to send them all our support and all our love as they go through quite a challenging time.”

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Bridge added: “We work really closely with our colleagues here at Three and we love them very much,” adding, “We’re thinking of them at the moment and just sending them all of our best wishes for today and for the future.”

Ryan Bridge and Melissa Chan-Green issued a heartfelt message to their colleagues at The Project after news of the show's discontinuation. Photo / Three
Ryan Bridge and Melissa Chan-Green issued a heartfelt message to their colleagues at The Project after news of the show's discontinuation. Photo / Three

The Project hosts themselves — including Lloyd and Mulligan — also shared their thoughts on the discontinuation on October 27 during the show. Lloyd thanked all their viewers who have tuned in since the show started nearly seven years ago.

“Now the plan is to bring everyone awesome shows until we end,” she said.

Meanwhile, Corbett joked that he has been a part of many shows that had been discontinued, “This will soon just be another corpse on Corbett highway,” he said.

Earlier in the day, they broke their silence confessing it had been an emotional 24 hours.

“We’ve teared up reading messages from our beautiful audience and those who have contributed to the show.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

“It’s nice to feel like we’re going out with love and support from a great big whānau.”

The hosts also reflected on the show’s seven-year run, “We’ve had an incredibly good innings and we’re so proud of everything our team has accomplished over seven years,” they said.

The Project hosts (from left) Jeremy Corbett, Jesse Mulligan and Kanoa Lloyd. Photo / Three
The Project hosts (from left) Jeremy Corbett, Jesse Mulligan and Kanoa Lloyd. Photo / Three


Save

    Share this article

Latest from Entertainment

Entertainment

Soul rock icon Lenny Kravitz announces debut NZ show

16 Jun 12:36 AM
Reviews

William Dart review: How Auckland Philharmonia captivated with Handel and Tippett

15 Jun 05:00 PM
Premium
Entertainment

Oprah shamed him. He’s back anyway

15 Jun 06:00 AM

It was just a stopover – 18 months later, they call it home

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Entertainment

Soul rock icon Lenny Kravitz announces debut NZ show

Soul rock icon Lenny Kravitz announces debut NZ show

16 Jun 12:36 AM

The 61-year-old rocker and style icon will perform in New Zealand for the first time.

William Dart review: How Auckland Philharmonia captivated with Handel and Tippett

William Dart review: How Auckland Philharmonia captivated with Handel and Tippett

15 Jun 05:00 PM
Premium
Oprah shamed him. He’s back anyway

Oprah shamed him. He’s back anyway

15 Jun 06:00 AM
Premium
Scarlett Johansson unveils her newest role at Cannes: Filmmaker

Scarlett Johansson unveils her newest role at Cannes: Filmmaker

14 Jun 07:00 PM
Sponsored: Embrace the senses
sponsored

Sponsored: Embrace the senses

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP