The new faces of TV3’s brand new current affairs and entertainment show have been confirmed.
Mediaworks has announced that Jesse Mulligan, Kanoa Lloyd and Josh Thomson will front The Project, set to launch in the 7pm slot on TV3 in February.
“The Project is fast, polished, informative and funny – and during the screen tests this extremely successful Australian format came alive in front of our eyes. Casting Jesse, Kanoa and Josh was a thrill. The best part was hearing their whoops of excitement when they found out who they’d be working with,” says Executive Producer Jon Bridges.
The programme has promised to offer audiences an “intelligent, informative and very funny half-hour mix of the stories that matter from New Zealand and around the world.”
The hosts will be joined each night by a variety of guests to discuss the stories of the day. Guest hosts will include media commentators, comedians, sport, political and other personalities, made up of a large list of notable New Zealanders from a range of fields.
Jesse, a Radio New Zealand host and previous head writer for 7 Days, will juggle his time between his radio show and new TV gig.
“Kanoa and Josh are a dream team. Kanoa brings brilliant and diverse broadcast experience, with anundeniable star quality. Josh might be the funniest person in New Zealand, but he’s also pure chaos. I think 7pm could use some chaos,” Jesse says.
Kanoa Lloyd is leaving Newshub Weather to join the panel in her biggest role to date.
“Apparently this is a new ‘job’, but I cannot imagine how this will feel like work. How lucky am I to get to spend my evenings telling stories with these two. Jesse is one of those people who’s bloody good at everything. He’s funny, smart and incredibly kind – and it’s embarrassing how much of a fan I am of Josh.”
“I’m painfully excited to be part of The Project. It’s a daily live show where I can say stupid things to the nation and it’ll be too late for the editors to cut it out. I love dissecting the news, and now I can do it without Dad telling me off for talking over the news.” says regular 7 Days guest Josh.