Former The Project star makes shock return to after sensationally quitting two years ago – and fans are delighted

Peter Helliar made a surprise return to The Sunday Project this weekend.

The comedian, who sensationally quit the current affairs series in 2022, appeared at the desk alongside Michael Hing, Max Rushden and Sarah Harris.

“Our globetrotter Pete Helliar is in the office!” the veteran was introduced, before explaining what brought him back to his old stomping grounds for a guest appearance on Sunday’s episode.

“I had to come back from Argentina because I hadn’t voted for marsupial of the year yet,” joked Peter, who has been traveling a lot lately.

‘The wifi was bad on the Inca Trail. I’m a hairy nose wombat man. They twerk people to death.’

Peter immediately threw himself into the show, telling stories and joking with the new cast as if they were old friends.

His fans were very happy with it and many shared their opinions on social media.

“Awesome! You should come back permanently!” wrote one, while someone else said, “That should be the co-host.”

Peter previously revealed the real reason why he quit The Project, as the mass exodus from the struggling Channel Ten show continues.

The 49-year-old announced his departure from the show two years ago, explaining at the time that he decided to quit after his co-host Carrie Bickmore left.

“Carrie, you said the other day that you’re glad to be leaving The Project, and you still love it and I still love the show. I really do,” he said.

‘[The Project] means a lot to me. It’s done great things for me. I interviewed Luke Skywalker once… and I’m looking forward to seeing what the show will be in the future.’

“It’s our globetrotting buddy, Pete Helliar, in the office!” the veteran was introduced, before explaining what brought him back to his old stomping grounds for a guest appearance

Peter also said he was looking forward to breaking new ground in the new year and didn’t want to be a “maker” who “leaves meetings to go to another meeting.”

He also told Nova’s Fitzy & Wippa that he wants to ‘do business and private things with his life’.

‘[There are] “I want to do things with my life, not just professionally but personally. I’ve already got an appointment scheduled for Ash Wednesday in London next year,” he said.

“It’s not just 10 years on the project. But before that, it’s about 10 years on Rove Live in the office, every day.”

In late 2022, the project was rocked by two other notable exits.

Lisa Wilkinson announced she would be stepping down effective immediately, with her regular presenter Carrie confirming her departure a month earlier.

“I’ve decided it’s time to re-prioritize some things in my life,” Wilkinson began, along with The Bachelor co-hosts Hamish Macdonald and Laura Byrne.

Peter was part of a mass exodus from the program in 2022. Pictured is the old line-up with Waleed Aly, Carrie Bickmore, Lisa Wilkinson and Peter

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

Lisa’s departure follows a controversial year for the TV presenter, which saw her taken off air after her disastrous Logies speech, which led to a rape trial being postponed.

In October of that year, Lisa’s co-star Bickmore announced her departure from The Project after 12 years on the air.

Bickmore spent three months away from her family in London earlier this year on a ‘sabbatical’ before returning to the panel in July, but quit again in October.

Peter had followed his good friend Carrie out the door