Carrie Bickmore pays tribute to Lisa Wilkinson after she quits The Project

Carrie Bickmore has paid tribute to Lisa Wilkinson after her shock resigned from The Project on Sunday night.

The 41-year-old shared a photo alongside the TV presenter on Instagram, congratulating her on “achieved so much during her brilliant career”.

Congratulations Lis on your incredible time. You’ve accomplished so much in your brilliant career so far and the show is so lucky to have you for the past five years,” Carrie wrote.

“You will be sorely missed. It’s not goodbye, just goodbye for now…and I’m looking forward to that margarita!!’

It comes amid rumors of a feud between Carrie and Lisa, which began in 2018 when reports claimed the long-standing Project star was “furious” that her new agency partner was going to earn four times her salary.

They claimed Carrie was “unimpressed” with Ten’s decision to recruit Lisa into The Project.

‘[She is] p**sed off at Wilkinson being shipped out to sit next to her,” insiders reportedly told the Daily Telegraph at the time.

They noted that the center of Carrie’s frustration was probably her relatively modest pay package of reportedly $500,000 — an amount nearly four times less than Lisa earned in her role on The Project, which was said to be $2.3 million. .

Carrie denied the claims at the time, telling Who magazine, “I couldn’t be more excited to be working with her. We text, we call and we’re going to make a great team.

“It’s good to have someone big join the show. It revives it and changes it. You need that in a show that can be seen every night,” she added.

Lisa told news.com: “I couldn’t believe it [there were rumours] because this is complete fiction. Carrie can’t believe it, I can’t believe it,’ she said.

“It’s really disappointing to us that for some reason there’s a belief… that two strong women can’t work together and support each other and enjoy working together.”

Lisa also shared a touching tribute to Carrie after the Gold Logie winner announced last month that she was leaving The Project.

The beloved TV presenter fought back tears as she told viewers that Tuesday was the hardest decision she has had to make in her professional life.

In a sweet Instagram tribute, Lisa shared a photo of the pair riding bikes with a sweet caption describing their long friendship.

“Long before Carrie Bickmore and I were The Project colleagues, we were buddies on the air working at different networks,” she explained.

“And I feel so lucky to have shared the last five years at the Project Desk with you, Carrie,” she continued.

“Long before Carrie Bickmore and I were The Project colleagues, we were buddies on the air working at different networks,” she explained.

“And I feel so lucky to have shared the last five years at the Project Desk with you, Carrie,” she continued.

Meanwhile, last year there was thought to be tension between Carrie’s close friend and radio presenter Tommy and Lisa when he made a joke about South African cricketer Quinton de Kock that visibly made her cringe.

At the time, Lisa looked very awkward at Tommy’s coverage of Quinton de Kock’s performance against Australia at the T20 World Cup.

Lisa squirmed in her chair as Tommy joked, “There’s no better feeling than watching the Aussies bowl with the Kock out.”

An unimpressed Lisa, refusing to make eye contact with Tommy, shook her papers on the desk.

Lisa announced she was quitting The Project at the end of Sunday’s episode, leaving viewers stunned.

“I’ve decided it’s time to re-prioritize some things in my life,” the TV veteran began alongside presenters Hamish Macdonald and Laura Byrne.

“And after nearly 15 years of the early alarm of breakfast TV, and now another five years here at The Project desk, I’m looking at how I want the next few years to go both professionally and personally,” she added.

“So starting tonight, I’m going to stop hosting the show.

“Sitting at this desk and working with this incredible team – both in front of and behind the camera – has been an absolute privilege.

“These people are truly some of the most talented and decent people I know.

And you, our passionate, engaged audience, were kind enough to make me feel so welcome in your home. I’ve had a good time, but for me it’s time for a change now.’

She went on to explain that she was not leaving Channel 10 and was “looking at some exciting work ideas.”

“But I have to be honest with you. The past six months have not been easy and the relentless targeted toxicity in the media has taken its toll. Not just me, but people I love,” Wilkinson said.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not above criticism, far from it. I’m human, and I don’t always get it right, none of us do, but by God, I tried.

“I’ve given this job everything I’ve got, and I hope you back home know that. I hope I’ve brought you stories that matter, introduced you to people whose lives and experiences would otherwise have gone untold, and helped highlight issues that deserve our collective attention.

So to everyone who has been so incredibly supportive and reaching out, especially over the past few months, thank you. You’ll never know how much it meant to me.’

She concluded: ‘I want to say thank you [media executive] Peter Meakin here at The Project, the wise old owl of news and current affairs in this country, who has been such an unwavering and generous supporter and mentor of mine during my time on TV, just as he has been to so many others.

And finally Leigh Sales, Tracy Grimshaw and Carrie Bickmore, if you fancy a drink, I’ll meet you at the bar. The margaritas are on me.”