Channel 10 Upfronts: Charlie Pickering, Tom Gleeson return to network
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Two ABC stars jump to Channel 10: Charlie Pickering returns to commercial TV after leaving The Project in 2014 for ‘ethical reasons’ as Tom Gleeson signs up to host a new game show
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Two of ABC’s biggest stars have joined Channel 10, the network announced on Thursday during its Upfronts presentation.
Tom Gleeson, the host of ABC game show Hard Quiz, will co-host a local version of the British comedy series Taskmaster.
Weekly host Charlie Pickering also joins the cast of the panel show Would I Lie to You?, hosted by Chrissie Swan.
Two of ABC’s biggest stars have joined Channel 10, the network announced on Thursday during its Upfronts presentation. Tom Gleeson (pictured), the host of ABC game show Hard Quiz, will co-host a local version of the British comedy series Taskmaster
It is clear that the pair will continue their on-air duties at the ABC in addition to hosting the Channel 10 programmes.
Gleeson, 48, joins comedian Tom Cashman on Taskmaster, in which a group of five celebrities – mostly comedians – try to complete a series of challenges.
Pickering, 45, is a new team captain of Would I Lie to You?, in which two teams try to trick each other with elaborate stories, while studio audiences and viewers at home try to decipher facts from fiction.
Gleeson, 48, joins comedian Tom Cashman (right) on Taskmaster, in which a group of five celebrities – mostly comedians – try to complete a series of challenges
“I’ve always loved the show and as a new team captain I can’t wait to maximize my chances of lying to the Australian public,” he said.
Pickering famously quit Channel 10’s The project in 2014 because he felt that working for the commercial network jeopardized his moral values.
The following year, he began hosting The Weekly on the ABC.
The Weekly host Charlie Pickering also joins the cast of the panel show Would I Lie To You?
Would I Lie To You?, presented by Chrissie Swan (pictured), sees two teams trying to trick each other with elaborate stories, while viewers at home try to decipher facts from fiction
He told The Daily Telegraph at the time he… felt his morale was jeopardized when producers asked him to interview radio DJ Mel Greig in the wake of the infamous royal prank call scandal that resulted in the death of a nurse in 2012.
He revealed that he and co-host Carrie Bickmore were arguing with producers about doing the sit-down chat offered by her former radio network 2DayFM.
Knowing at the time that Greig was not mentally stable and was struggling to cope with the gravity of what had happened, Pickering said he was afraid an interview with her would cause her to burst under pressure.
Pickering (with Carrie Bickmore, center, and Peter Helliar, right) abruptly quit 10’s The Project in 2014 because he felt that working for the commercial network compromised his moral values
“I’ve lost friends to suicide,” he said.
And I would not be complicit in a situation that could lead to further psychological problems. Carrie and I fought it all day.’
Although the pair managed to “win that fight” and the interview was dropped, Pickering hinted that the situation was hurting his relationship with Channel 10.
He also said around this time that he had objected to The Project’s coverage of the infamous ‘St Kilda schoolgirl’ footy sex scandal.
Pickering said at the time that he felt his morale was jeopardized when producers asked him to do an interview with radio DJ Mel Greig in the wake of the infamous royal hoax scandal that resulted in the death of a nurse in 2012. (Pickering and Bickmore are pictured on The Project in June 2012 with guest Katy Perry and panelist Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann)