An axed panelist from The Project has opened about being left unemployed after the long-running Channel 10 show was canned and admitted even his own family did not tune in.

Axed Project Star Sam Taunton has broken his silence following the shock cancellation of Channel 10’s The Project in a new stand up set.

Taunton, a well-known stand-up comedian, joined the long-running panel show in 2023 as a full time weeknight panelist alongside fellow newbie Sarah Harris and veteran Waleed Aly.

The 33-year-old funny man took to the stage in Sydney this week to try out some new stand up material after news of the show’s cancellation reached media outlets.

“It’s just like everyone f**king knows you’ve lost your job and it’s crazy,” Sam told the audience, as reported by the Daily Mail Australia.

Taunton (left) on the desk alongside Waleed Aly. Picture: Ten.
“My dad rang me and said: ‘Look, if I’m honest, the show wasn’t for me. I prefer real news’”.

Staunton then revealed that his co-host Waleed Aly tried to warn him about paparazzi due to the high level of media coverage about The Project’s demise.

“Waleed – you might know that guy?” Taunton said.

“He texted me on Wednesday and said: ‘I’m so sorry, Sam. Get prepared.

I just got papped by the paparazzi outside Chemist Warehouse near the studio.’

“I ran as fast as I could to Chemist Warehouse. Not one f***er took a photo of me!”

The Project will end its run on June 27. Picture: Ten.
A Ten spokesperson confirmed to SkyNews.com.au last week that The Project will end its run after “almost 16 years and more than 4,500 episodes” on June 27.

The long-running panel series was beset by sliding ratings and a rotating line up of anchors for years before it was officially axed.

Channel 10 has subsequently unveiled The Project’s successor, a “premium, in-depth news, current affairs and insights program” called 10 NEWS+.

The Project’s replacement 10 News+ will be helmed by Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace. Picture: Supplied.
The new “premium” news show will be helmed by ex-Seven talent Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace.

It is understood that 10NEWS+ will inherit the first half of The Project’s 6:30pm – 7:30pm slot, with the second half hour now freed up for the channel’s primetime programming.

The anchor team will be supported by an existing pool of Ten reporters, including Political Editor Ashleigh Raper, Bill Hogan, Brianna Parkins, Samantha Butler, Carrie-Anne Greenbank and Claudia Vrdoljak.