Emotional Carrie Bickmore breaks down in tears as she hosts her final episode of The Project

The project parted ways with host Carrie Bickmore on Wednesday night, as the 41-year-old said goodbye after 13 years on the show and 17 years with the network.

The 41-year-old gave a tearful final speech as she thanked her team, her family and The Project viewers.

“Is it too late to change your mind?” she laughed through tears.

She also thanked her styling team and revealed that over the years her outfits have often been considered over the top.

“I remember being told early in the show that maybe my outfits were too much — that people couldn’t look at what I was wearing and listen to what I was saying at the same time,” she said.

Bickmore then gestured to the beautiful red feather dress she was wearing and added, “Take this one. I proved them wrong.”

Tributes poured in for the TV personality on a special edition of the Channel 10 show, which featured guest stars like Rove McManus, Fifi Box and Rachel Corbett.

Bickmore and her fellow panelists – Waleed Aly, Peter Helliar and Tommy Little – kicked off the party sipping champagne and brutally toasting each other for a tearful first segment.

A montage then began showing Bickmore’s outstanding efforts to raise awareness and funds to fight brain cancer, after her husband Greg passed away from the disease in 2010.

“I will forever be grateful to The Project, as well as our viewers at home, for your support and for making our foundation what it is today,” she said with tears in her eyes.

“We’ve now raised over $20 million and it wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for this place, if it wasn’t for Greg, and if you hadn’t looked at home — so thank you very, very much.”

Corbett, 41, was the second guest to appear on panel and burst into tears as she and Bickmore reflected on their time together.

The pair couldn’t stop sobbing as they sat next to each other on the desk as they reflected on all the tearful and heartfelt stories they’d covered over the years.

“I’m so sorry you’re going, because I’ve loved sitting next to you for the past six years,” Corbett said with tears in his eyes.

“You are so generous, so kind, such a good performer, so smart and people love you back home because you are the perfect blend of professionalism and genuineness and you have given so much of yourself to this show.”

Steve Price also made a special appearance, delivering a surprisingly tearful and candid tribute.

“You’re the most impressive person I’ve ever worked with,” he said, his voice cracking. ‘I mean it. You’re great. You know that.’

Bickmore announced her departure from The Project in October.

The Gold Logie winner has been on The Project desk since the program launched in 2009 and has since become a familiar face on Australian screens.

She had been away from her family in London for three months earlier this year before returning to the panel in July, but quit in October.

She will continue to host Hit Network’s national drive show with Tommy Little following her departure from The Project, an insider has confirmed.

Her management is also in talks with all three commercial networks to secure her future TV prospects if she leaves Channel 10.

Sarah Harris, who previously hosted Studio 10, will reprise her role in The Project.

Sarah recently told Stellar magazine, “I didn’t see this coming. And I’m still trying to wrap my head around it.”

“It’s such an incredible opportunity to step into some pretty big boots and be a part of the next chapter of The Project.

Can’t wait to learn more and have fun with Waleed and the team. This is one of the biggest jobs in TV and feels like a once-in-a-lifetime gig.”

Carrie’s co-stars Lisa Wilkinson and Peter Helliar also shocked viewers when they both announced their departures from the struggling current affairs show last week.

Peter, 47, announced on Tuesday night that he was leaving The Project, explaining that he decided to quit following the departure of his co-host Carrie.

“Carrie, you said the other day that you’re glad you’re leaving The Project now that you still love it and I still love the show. Really,’ he explained.

‘The project means a lot to me. It has done great things for me. I interviewed Luke Skywalker once… and I look forward to seeing what the show will be like in the future.”

He also told Nova’s Fitzy & Wippa on Wednesday, he wants to “do things with my life professionally and personally.”

‘[There are] things I want to do with my life, not just professionally but personally and I’ve already burned to ashes in London next year,” he said.

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

Lisa announced on November 20 that she was stepping down immediately.

The embattled TV presenter, 62, made the shocking confession at the end of Sunday night’s episode, leaving viewers stunned.

“I’ve decided it’s time to re-prioritize a few things in my life,” the TV veteran began alongside The Bachelor co-hosts Hamish Macdonald and Laura Byrne.

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

Lisa’s departure comes after a controversial year for the TV presenter, which saw her taken off the air following her disastrous Logies speech that resulted in the delay of a rape trial.