The Project host announces shock departure and admits it’s time to ‘leap into the unknown’

Gorgi Coghlan has announced she is departing The Project after over 10 years at the helm.

On Tuesday, the 45-year-old revealed it wasn’t an ‘easy decision’ to leave her role, but told Daily Mail Australia she is ‘working on a couple of projects’ and is focusing on her boutique hotel in Ballarat, which she will reopen after Victoria’s lockdown ends.

In a statement on Instagram, Gorgi wrote: ‘After a lot of reflecting, I’ve made the big decision to step away from The Project.

Farewell: The Project’s Gorgi Coghlan (right) has announced she is departing the show after over a decade at the helm. Pictured alongside her co-hosts Lisa Wilkinson (centre) and Waleed Aly (left)

‘It hasn’t been an easy decision but after 10 YEARS on this wonderful show I feel that it’s time. I really love broadcasting and I’ve missed it this year.’

The Victorian-born reporter went on to say that she’s always known when the time was right to ‘leap into the unknown’ and ‘discover new adventures’.

Gorgi, who started hosting the show when she was pregnant with her now 10-year-old daughter Molly-Rose, added: ‘Over 10 years I’ve laughed, shed tears, interviewed Prime Ministers, superstars and incredible humans who have faced tragic circumstances.

New adventures: The Victorian-born reporter went on to say that throughout her career, she's known and felt when the time was right to 'leap into the unknown' and 'discover new adventures

New adventures: The Victorian-born reporter went on to say that throughout her career, she’s known and felt when the time was right to ‘leap into the unknown’ and ‘discover new adventures

Emotional: She went on to thank her co-hosts Peter Helliar (left), Waleed Aly (right), Lisa Wilkinson and Carrie Bickmore for their 'love, support, kindness and friendship'

Emotional: She went on to thank her co-hosts Peter Helliar (left), Waleed Aly (right), Lisa Wilkinson and Carrie Bickmore for their ‘love, support, kindness and friendship’

‘I’ve had the absolute joy of working with the most creative, hard working production team who give their all every day, and the generous and magical make up and wardrobe staff (who literally work miracles!)’

She went on to thank her co-hosts Peter Helliar, Waleed Aly, Lisa Wilkinson and Carrie Bickmore for their ‘love, support, kindness and friendship’.

‘Pete, how lucky I’ve been to work with you on the desk where you never failed to make me laugh so hard every single show!’ she continued.

'Partners in crime': 'An extra special thank you to my partner in crime on the desk and the person who I've spent the most working hours with over the past ten years, Waleed,' she added

‘Partners in crime’: ‘An extra special thank you to my partner in crime on the desk and the person who I’ve spent the most working hours with over the past ten years, Waleed,’ she added

‘An extra special thank you to my partner in crime on the desk and the person who I’ve spent the most working hours with over the past ten years, Waleed.

‘I feel so lucky to have shared this chapter with you. Your grace, intelligence, wisdom and gentleness inspire me.’

After thanking viewers and the show’s creator Craig Campbell, she went on to speak about her plans for the future.

Goodbye: Carrie, 40, shared a picture of herself alongside Gorgi on Instagram, captioned: 'Good luck with your next adventures beautiful woman. You'll always be part of the family'

Goodbye: Carrie, 40, shared a picture of herself alongside Gorgi on Instagram, captioned: ‘Good luck with your next adventures beautiful woman. You’ll always be part of the family’

‘Moving on is hard. It’s scary and takes a leap of faith, but it’s the only way I know what the universe has in store for me and for me to keep reaching new heights. So here goes! Here’s to the next chapter and whatever magic that brings.’

Carrie, 40, shared a picture of herself with Gorgi on Instagram captioned: ‘Good luck with your next adventures beautiful woman. You’ll always be part of the family.’ 

Gorgi has enjoyed an illustrious career over the decades, being trained as a classic singer and a professional stage performer.

Prior to joining Ten, she was a reporter and travel presenter for Today – where she also filled in for Steven Jacobs to present the weather – and National Nine News.

She’s perhaps best known for co-hosting Network Ten’s Logie Award winning The Circle between 2010 and 2012, and also appeared as ‘The Monster’ on The Masked Singer in 2019.

Surprise! In 2019, Gorgi was revealed as the celebrity underneath the Monster's costume

Surprise! In 2019, Gorgi was revealed as the celebrity underneath the Monster's costume

Surprise! In 2019, Gorgi was revealed as the celebrity underneath the Monster’s costume 

Gorgi was a regular panellist on The Project, and worked full-time on the show in 2015 after being announced as Carrie’s maternity leave replacement.

She married Simon Coghlan in 2009, and the pair welcomed their daughter Molly-Rose Coghlan in December 2010.

The couple own the Provincial Hotel in Ballarat, which won the the ‘boutique style accommodation of the year’ category in the 2019 Tourism Accommodation Awards (TAA) for Victoria.

Part of the furniture: Gorgi was a regular panellist on The Project, and worked full-time on the show in 2015 after being announced as Carrie Bickmore's maternity leave replacement. Pictured with Carrie (right) and Lisa (left)

Part of the furniture: Gorgi was a regular panellist on The Project, and worked full-time on the show in 2015 after being announced as Carrie Bickmore’s maternity leave replacement. Pictured with Carrie (right) and Lisa (left)