Sarah Harris Returns with Bold New Look and Candid Views on Television
Veteran Australian television presenter Sarah Harris has made a stunning return to the spotlight, appearing on the cover of Stellar magazine with a bold new look that showcases her toned figure, glowing complexion, and elegantly styled blonde locks. The 44-year-old former co-host of The Project, dressed in sleek high-fashion ensembles and striking confident poses, signals her entry into a new era following the show's cancellation last year.
Cancel Culture Has Made Television 'Beige'
While fronting a glamorous magazine shoot, Harris used her return to speak candidly about the state of Australian television. She believes cancel culture has turned the medium 'beige' by sanitising content and pushing audiences toward podcasts and radio instead.
'I think that's the reason why mediums like radio, longer-form live television and podcasts have become so popular... you can have complicated conversations,' Harris said in her first interview since The Project was axed after 16 years on air.
'When you have to talk in sound bites, you can't be nuanced. There's no cheekiness on TV anymore, like the stuff Bert Newton used to get away with on Good Morning Australia.'
Harris explained that broadcasters have become overly cautious, producing safe but uninspiring content. 'It’s sad, I think by jumping down people's throats for every misstep, you get a media industry so sanitised, it's boring. It's not risky – and I think that's why people have gravitated towards podcasts and other types of media.'
Reflecting on The Project's Cancellation
Harris spent two-and-a-half years on The Project before Network Ten's brutal decision to axe the long-running panel show last year. She admitted the cancellation came as a shock but maintains a philosophical perspective.
'I'm of the opinion that you don't get angry when a show is axed, you just be thankful that you were able to have the experience,' she said.
The journalist suggested that audience demographics played a role in the show's decline. 'I think people who watched The Project had grown up and their lives had changed – it was on air for 16 years. They might have started watching the show in their mid-20s. Now they've got a mortgage and kids... they're not watching TV as much as they used to.'
Embracing Radio as a New Chapter
Following her television departure, Harris took eight months away from the spotlight, putting her phone on 'do not disturb' to focus on her two sons. Now she's embracing radio as a more personal medium, having recently joined Nova Sydney's breakfast show with Ricki-Lee Coulter and Tim Blackwell.
'This is a massive "pinch me" moment. There's something hugely authentic about radio. So pumped to be waking up with Ricki-Lee and Tim,' Harris said in a statement about her new role.
The move comes as part of Nova's major shake-up in January, which saw Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie replaced in the breakfast slot by Ricki-Lee & Tim, who previously co-hosted the station's drive show with Joel Creasey.
Hope for Television's Future
Despite her criticism of current television trends, Harris remains hopeful about the medium's future. 'I love TV, I grew up in TV... I'm rooting for it. I just think it's in that funny kind of zone where there needs to be a bit of a pivot point,' she said.
When asked about a potential return to commercial television, the presenter expressed openness while acknowledging the industry's current challenges. Her comments highlight broader concerns about creative freedom in media and how audience preferences are shifting toward more authentic, nuanced formats.
