The cast of the Project have shown their fans they still have a sense of humour – even after being cancelled.

On Wednesday’s episode the show ran a skit that appeared to mock the publicity that has erupted since Channel 10 announced on Monday that The Project would end for good on June 17.

Comedian Sam Taunton kicked off the fun by referencing the ABC’s decision this week to cancel news and current affairs talk show, Q+A which like The Project is considered by some to be ‘woke‘.

‘First it was us here at the Project and then it was the ABC axing Q+A and now I’m sorry to say another giant of the entertainment industry is being forced out’ he said.

The program then cut to a news item from the US announcing that a long-running animal novelty act featuring a ‘water skiing squirrel’ called Twiggy was facing retirement.

The cast of the Project have shown their fans they still have a sense of humour – even after being cancelled. Pictured: Sam Taunton

On Wednesday’s episode the show ran a skit that appeared to mock the publicity that has erupted since Channel 10 announced that The Project would end for good on June 17. Pictured: Twiggy the Skiing Squirrel is being retired after 40 years and the Project described the rodent as a ‘giant in entertainment’ that has been ‘forced out’ of the industry

‘After 40 years on the water a talented squirrel ice hanging up her skis,’ the US anchor announced with a straight face.

The item then detailed that the talented rodent gave its final performance in Orlando, Florida, and showed footage of the animal skiing around the surface of a small pool.

‘There wasn’t a dry eye in the house,’ Sam said after the clip and added, ‘What is happening to this industry?’

‘She better not be starting an Only Fans,’ Sarah joked.

A well-known ‘feel-good’ story on US news, Twiggy was launched as an act in 1979.

Daily Mail reported in 2023 that Twiggy is actually the fourth squirrel named Twiggy to be trained to water ski by the Florida couple.

The original was rescued as a baby by Chuck and Lou Ann Best in 1978 after it was blown from its nest during a hurricane.

It comes after the stars of The Project bid the show farewell, after it was officially axed after 16 years – with right-wing media personality Steve Price blasting the show’s cancellation.

‘There wasn’t a dry eye in the house,’ Sam said after the clip and added, ‘What is happening to this industry?’ Pictured: Waleed Aly and Sarah Harris

Network 10 announced the news on Monday, and hosts Waleed Aly, Sarah Harris, Steve Price and Sam Taunton shared their thoughts on their sacking in the opening minutes of Monday’s show.

Surprisingly, it was Price, a regular conservative voice on a show often considered left-wing, who was the most torn up about the cancellation.

‘This is the best crew of people I worked with. I was 55 when I started here. I’m now 70. That’s 15 years.

‘How an old fat guy like me can survive, I don’t know,’ he said.

Price did not mince words when he shared his additional thoughts in a column for the Herald Sun on Monday night.

He slammed viewers who are gleefully ‘dancing on the grave’ of the ‘woke’ series amid its cancellation.

‘Those ignorant people doing the ‘glad they got sacked’ dance over the cancellation called the show woke and leftie – hello, I am the exact opposite of that description – and have been there from almost the start’ Price wrote.

‘Show me that sort of political balance on any ABC TV show – you can’t.’

Price concluded: ‘Melbourne and Australia has lost something unique this week – a live TV show with passion, courage, humour and a heart. It’s sad.’

‘First it was us here at the Project and then it was the ABC axing Q+A and now I’m sorry to say another giant of the entertainment industry is being forced out’ Sam said. Pictured: Q+A host Patricia Karvelas

The Project first aired in July 2009, then known as The 7PM Project, and exceeded more than a million metro viewers at the height of its success.

It first began as a half-hour program but soon transitioned into one-hour episodes as its popularity increased.

Shot mostly at Network Ten’s studios in The Como Centre in South Yarra, Melbourne, The Project was known for reporting on current affairs with a comedic spin.

It has won several accolades of its nearly 16 years, including 11 Logie Awards – two of which were viewer-voted Gold Logies won by Aly and former host Carrie Bickmore.

However, viewership began to dwindle in recent years, with Daily Mail Australia reporting in March the show was under review and set to get the axe.