‘Unemployed': The Project's Sam Taunton makes light of losing his TV job
The Project star Sam Taunton has poked fun at Channel 10 axing the long-running panel show, effectively making he and his co-stars unemployed.
It was confirmed last week that the current affairs and entertainment panel program was wrapping up at the end of this month after 16 years on air, with hosts including Waleed Aly, Sarah Harris and Hamish Macdonald all leaving the network.
Taunton, who regularly hosts comedy segments on the panel show, broke his silence over the show's axing during his latest stand-up routine, where he revealed his close family's reaction to the news that he was now unemployed.
'It's just like everyone f**king knows you've lost your job and it's crazy,' said the comedian.
'My dad rang me and said: 'Look, if I'm honest, the show wasn't for me. I prefer real news.''
He continued: 'My girlfriend just sent me a Google Docs spreadsheet that said 'Chores now that Sam's unemployed.''
Taunton also revealed during his set that co-star Waleed Aly had warned him about the attention they would be receiving after the news was announced to the world that the show was coming to an end.
'It's weird losing your job very publicly. Waleed, you might know that guy. He texted me on Wednesday and he goes, he goes, I'm so sorry, Sam. Get prepared. I just got papped by the paparazzi outside Chemist Warehouse near the studio.'
Taunton then joked: 'I ran as fast as I could to the chemist's warehouse. Not one f**ker took a photo of me!'
Ten recently revealed details of the program replacing The Project, which launches on June 30. 10 News+ will be hosted by journalists Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace from Sunday to Thursday, and Hugh Riminton and Urusa Heger on Fridays.
Also featured in the presenting line-up are political editor Ashleigh Raper, Billy Hogan, Brianna Parkins, Samantha Butler, Carrie-Anne Greenbank, Claudia Vrdoljak and entertainment editor Angela Bishop.
Veteran producer Daniel Sutton will serve as EP.
In a statement, Ten said that the new program 'will offer a fresh perspective on critical local and global stories, tailored for an engaged audience seeing an in-depth news coverage.'
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