Carrie Bickmore OAM (born 3 December 1980)[1] is an Australian talk show and current affairs Gold Logie award-winning television and radio presenter. She currently co-hosts a national drive radio show on the Hit Network, Carrie & Tommy, from 3–6pm weeknights alongside Tommy Little. She was previously a co-host on Network 10's The Project from 2009–2022.

Carrie Bickmore

Bickmore at the 2012 TV Week Logie Awards
Born (1980-12-03) 3 December 1980 (age 43)
NationalityAustralian
EducationPerth College, Curtin University
Occupation(s)Television and radio presenter
Years active2000−Present
Employer(s)Network 10, Hit Network
TelevisionThe Project
Spouse
Greg Lange
(m. 2005; died 2010)
PartnerChris Walker (2012–2023)
Children3

Early life edit

Bickmore was born in Adelaide, South Australia, in 1980, but moved to Perth, Western Australia, with her family at an early age.[2] Bickmore attended the Anglican girls' school Perth College and then later attended Curtin University of Technology where she studied journalism, graduating in 2000. She moved to Melbourne, Victoria, in 2001 to pursue a career in media.[3]

Career edit

Radio edit

Bickmore started her career as a newsreader on 92.9FM in Perth where she began as an emergency fill-in for a sick colleague.[4] Her father Brian Bickmore was a radio announcer on that station at the time and later took up management positions in the Austereo network.[5] After this she was appointed as a regular newsreader for the station.[6]

In 2001, Bickmore became the afternoon newsreader for radio station Nova 100 in Melbourne[3] and in 2002 she became the co-host of the drive show with Andy Ross.[7]

Bickmore was a 2005 Best News Presenter finalist in the Australian Commercial Radio Awards.[8] Bickmore, Rebecca Leahy and Michael Colling accepted the award for Best Community Service Project – Metro, on behalf of Nova 100.[9][10]

In 2007, Bickmore was appointed the breakfast newsreader on Hughesy & Kate on Nova 100.[3] In August 2009, she announced that she would be leaving Nova 100 to focus on The 7pm Project. Her last day was 25 September 2009.[citation needed]

In October 2012, Bickmore and Charlie Pickering were part of radio show The Breakfast Project, which aired nationally for three weeks. Both critics and fans were impressed with the show sparking rumours that Bickmore and Pickering were going to become regulars on Nova 100 Melbourne.[11]

In November 2013, Bickmore returned to Nova 100 to read the news one last time and to say farewell to long-standing breakfast radio duo Hughesy and Kate.[12]

In January 2017, Southern Cross Austereo announced that Bickmore and Tommy Little would host Carrie & Tommy across the Hit Network from 3pm.[13]

Television edit

In 2006, Bickmore made her start in television on the variety show Rove Live, presenting the "Carrie @ the News Desk" segment for each episode.[14] Often the news stories related to actual events, but ended in a twist with the punchline. A running joke throughout the segment was Bickmore's quirky introductions in which she added a quip, often playing off social trends, music and popular culture, for example: "Good evening. I'm Carrie Bickmore and don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me?" In 2007, Bickmore returned to the show with a more important role.

In 2009, Bickmore was announced as one of the hosts for Network 10's new news and current affairs program The 7pm Project, (later The Project) alongside comedians Dave Hughes and Charlie Pickering. The program airs weeknights on Network Ten and further expanded her profile as a television presenter.[15]

On 2 May 2010, Bickmore won the 2010 Logie Award for Best New Female Talent for her work on Rove and The Project.[16]

In December 2010, Bickmore was criticised by The Drum's editor, Jonathan Green,[17] and representatives of the Australian coffee industry,[18] for promoting McDonald's in a report for The Oprah Winfrey Show, which McDonald's confirmed was paid advertising.

After several months away from The 7PM Project in 2011, Bickmore returned to television after the death of her husband.[19]

Bickmore was nominated for the Gold Logie for Most Popular TV Personality in 2012 and 2013.[20] In 2014, Bickmore was again nominated for the award, resulting in the media nicknaming her 'the golden girl' of Network Ten alongside Asher Keddie.[21]

In 2013, it was announced that Bickmore would front a revamped version of So You Think You Can Dance Australia for Network Ten alongside former American Idol judge Paula Abdul.[22]

In 2015, Bickmore won the Gold Logie award. During her acceptance speech she donned a beanie in order to raise awareness for her late husband's struggle with brain cancer, and encouraged her peers to wear a beanie in order to support the cause; using her husband's fears about his scars and use of beanies to cover them as the story behind the symbol. In November 2015, she subsequently launched Carrie's Beanies 4 Brain Cancer[23][24] with the aim of initially raising $4,200,000 for brain cancer research, a feat that was subsequently achieved two months later in January 2016.[25]

As of September 2022, Carrie's Beanies 4 Brain Cancer is stated to have raised over $18 million dollars so far.[26]

Bickmore announced in October 2022 that she was going to leave The Project the following month to spend more time with her family. Her last show was on 30 November 2022. She was the longest serving panellist after her former colleagues: Dave Hughes who left in December 2013 to focus on his stand-up comedy and radio and Charlie Pickering who left in March 2014 to host The Weekly with Charlie Pickering.[27][28][29]

Other edit

In 2010, Bickmore was the official host and ambassador for the L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival held in Melbourne.[30]

In April 2012, Bickmore was named as the official Cadbury Easter Ambassador, and helped launch Cadbury's Easter campaign at an event in Melbourne to media and key stakeholders, and promoted charity donations for Foodbank Australia.[31]

In November 2012, it was announced Bickmore would become a UNICEF Ambassador for Project Eliminate, raising "awareness of neonatal and maternal tetanus".[32]

In November 2014, Bickmore announced that she had become the ongoing face of the global French beauty brand Garnier in Australia and subsequently featured in several beauty advertising campaigns for Garnier Nutrisse hair colour and Garnier BB cream.[33]

In 2017 Bickmore was inducted onto the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in recognition of her work as a "charitable and inspirational role model for women and girls".[34]

She was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours for service to the broadcast media, and to brain cancer awareness.[35]

Personal life edit

In 2005, she married Greg Lange, who also worked in the media industry. She gave birth to their son in 2007. Lange died after a decade-long battle with brain cancer on 27 December 2010.[36]

On 8 October 2014, Bickmore announced on The Project that she was pregnant with her second child, to partner Chris Walker.[37] She gave birth to a girl in 2015.[38]

On 21 June 2018, Bickmore posted a video on Instagram announcing her third pregnancy,[39] subsequently announcing the birth of another daughter later that year.[40]

Bickmore and Walker separated in 2023.[41]

Awards and nominations edit

Award Date Category Outcome Work Ref
52nd Logie Awards 2 May 2010 Most Popular New Female Talent Won The 7PM Project [16]
54th Logie Awards 15 April 2012 Most Popular Presenter Nominated The Project
Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television Nominated [16]
55th Logie Awards 7 April 2013 Most Popular Presenter Nominated
Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television Nominated
56th Logie Awards 20 April 2014 Most Popular Presenter Nominated
Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television Nominated
57th Logie Awards 3 May 2015 Most Popular Presenter Won [42][43]
Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television Won
58th Logie Awards 8 May 2016 Most Popular Presenter Nominated
Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television Nominated

References edit

  1. ^ Tsoukatos, Arielle (10 December 2018). "Carrie Bickmore Welcomes Her Third Child With The Sweetest Baby Name". In Style. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  2. ^ Fewster, Sean (17 May 2006). "Roving around for new style of news". The Advertiser. Archived from the original on 21 August 2006.
  3. ^ a b c Vickery, Colin (23 May 2007). "Carrie on laughing". Herald Sun. News Limited. Archived from the original on 31 December 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
  4. ^ "Carrie Bickmore". radioinfo. Archived from the original on 14 October 2017. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  5. ^ "Brian Bickmore leaves Austereo". Radioinfo. 9 January 2004. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  6. ^ "Carrie Bickmore - Rove". Rove Online. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
  7. ^ "Nova Melbourne Loses Drive Team". RadioInfo Australia. 19 October 2004. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  8. ^ Media Release, Finalists announced for 2005 Radio Awards Archived 11 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine, 26 July 2005
  9. ^ 2005 ACRAS Winners Photo Gallery Archived 11 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ Commercial Radio Australia Limited, May, 2006 Archived 27 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ "The Breakfast Project with Carrie and Charlie highlights". NovaFM. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  12. ^ McMahon, Neil (28 November 2013). "Final shows: Hughesy and Kate get biblical, as Matt and Jo have rooftop gathering". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  13. ^ "Carrie Bickmore heads back to radio". Radioinfo. 20 January 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  14. ^ Willis, Charlotte (9 October 2014). "Carrie Bickmore pregnancy news: Who is the father of her baby?". news.com.au. News Limited. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  15. ^ Burrowes, Tim (14 June 2009). "Ten on its new daily show: 'It's not The Daily Show'". Mumbrella. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  16. ^ a b c "Most popular new female talent". Yahoo!7. Archived from the original on 6 January 2013.
  17. ^ Green, Jonathan (6 December 2010). "Modern media: it's all just a little bit fancy". The Drum. ABC Television. Archived from the original on 8 December 2010. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  18. ^ Elser, Daniela (6 December 2010). "Coffee houses in a froth over Oprah's McCafe sell-out". news.com.au. News Limited. Archived from the original on 7 December 2010. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  19. ^ Hunter, Thomas (3 January 2011). "Ten's Carrie Bickmore loses husband to cancer". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  20. ^ "Carrie Bickmore :: 2014 TV WEEK Logie Awards". TV WEEK Logie Awards. TV Week. Archived from the original on 4 April 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  21. ^ Byrnes, Holly (5 April 2014). "Block host Scott Cam helps tradies rule on reality television". news.com.au. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 5 April 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  22. ^ Byrnes, Holly (19 October 2013). "Paula Abdul joins Carrie Bickmore on new season of So You Think You Can Dance". news.com.au. News Limited. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  23. ^ "Carries Beanies 4 Brain Cancer". Beanies.
  24. ^ Smith, Dave (9 November 2015). Carrie Bickmore launches Carries Beanies 4 Brain Cancer (B4BC) - The Project (2015). Archived from the original on 19 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  25. ^ "We've done it!". Beanies. Archived from the original on 9 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  26. ^ "About Us". Carrie's Beanies 4 Brain Cancer. Archived from the original on 1 October 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  27. ^ Mitchell, Thomas (11 October 2022). "Carrie Bickmore to depart The Project after 13 years on air". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  28. ^ Kelly, Vivienne (12 October 2022). "Carrie Bickmore to Leave 'The Project' at End of the Year". Variety. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  29. ^ Stow, Katie (11 October 2022). "Carrie Bickmore announces she is leaving The Project for good". Mamamia. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  30. ^ "LMFF Official Program Launch". Style Melbourne. 11 February 2010. Archived from the original on 14 February 2010. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  31. ^ "Cadbury Easter". AMPR. 6 April 2012. Archived from the original on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  32. ^ "Children's charity news: UNICEF Australia | UNICEF Australia". Unicef. 10 May 2012. Archived from the original on 7 August 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  33. ^ Lawrence, Katrina (29 November 2014). "TV host Carrie Bickmore is the new face of Garnier". Sydney Confidential. The Daily Telegraph. Sydney: News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 10 March 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  34. ^ "Carrie Bickmore, 2017 Honour Roll for Women". Women Victoria. Victorian Government. Archived from the original on 6 July 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  35. ^ "BICKMORE, Carrie OAM". Australian Honours Search Facility. Australian Government. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  36. ^ "7PM Project host loses husband to cancer". The Spy Report. Media Spy. 2 January 2011. Archived from the original on 5 January 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  37. ^ "Carrie Bickmore pregnant and reveals her news on The Project". news.com.au. News Corp Australia. 8 October 2014. Archived from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  38. ^ "Carrie Bickmore and Chris Walker announce birth of daughter Evie". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 18 March 2015. Archived from the original on 19 March 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  39. ^ "Carrie Bickmore announces pregnancy in cute Instagram post". news.com.au. News Corp Australia. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  40. ^ Dye, Josh (9 December 2018). "'Absolutely besotted': Carrie Bickmore announces birth of third child". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  41. ^ Gracie, Elizabeth (17 January 2023). "Carrie Bickmore SPLITS from partner Chris Walker". Now To Love. Are Media. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  42. ^ Willis, Charlotte (22 March 2015). "Here's the full List of 2015 Logies nominations". news.com.au. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  43. ^ "Logies 2015: full list of award winners". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 4 May 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2015.

External links edit

Media offices
Preceded by
Originator
The Project
Co-host

20 July 2009 – 30 November 2022
Succeeded by