???The ABC has poured cold water over rumours Waleed Aly is looking to replace Leigh Sales as the host of its flagship current affairs program.
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News Corp reported the Gold Logie winner was "a bit over The Project" and now had his eyes on a return to the national broadcaster, where he worked before joining Ten's news and entertainment show in 2015.
The reports quoted unnamed "friends" of the star as saying he thought the show was "a little beneath him".
With the ABC about to undergo a major restructure, it was claimed Aly even had his mind on one role in particular, the hosting gig at nightly news program 7.30. The problem is that the hosting chair is currently occupied one of the most revered interviewers in the country, Leigh Sales.
Aly previously worked for ABC as the host of Radio National's drive program. He was also the host of the Big Ideas program and a regular co-host of The Conversation Hour with Jon Faine.
But sources at The Project have rubbished the claims, saying Aly is happy where he is. It is also understood Aly has not been in talks with any rival network, the ABC or otherwise.
An ABC spokeswoman said News Corp simply got it wrong.
"We can confirm that there is absolutely no truth to this report," she said.
Aly has a complicated relationship with print media. He is a columnist for Fairfax Media, the publisher of this website, and is regularly attacked by right-wing columnists such as Andrew Bolt who paint him as an apologist for Muslim extremists.
A Channel Ten spokeswoman declined to comment.