Lisa Wilkinson enjoys three-week holiday from The Project – after show receives negative press

Lisa Wilkinson is currently enjoying a three-week break from The Project as the show continues to receive a slew of negative press and bad ratings. 

The TV star shared a photo to Instagram on Monday celebrating her time away from the beleaguered show, where she is seen cuddling her beloved pooch Maggie. 

‘Mood right now: hello holidays! Maggie’s mood right now: put me down!!!’ Lisa, 61,  captioned the photo. 

Break time: Lisa Wilkinson (pictured) donned a rainbow-coloured jumper and cuddled her beloved dog Maggie on Monday as she enjoys a three-week holiday from The Project – after the show received a barrage of negative press and suffers dire ratings.

In the photo, Lisa is seen sitting on a step wearing a rainbow top and a pair of loose-fitting blue jeans.

The veteran broadcaster, who reportedly earns $1.7 million a year, is not scheduled to return to  The Project until December 5, according to The Australian. 

Ten is denying Lisa’s absence has anything to do with the show’s poor ratings or the negative publicity surrounding her new autobiography, It Wasn’t Meant to Be Like This. 

She is instead taking time off ahead of the Christmas-New Year period when she will fill in as main weekday host while Carrie Bickmore is on holiday.

However, sources say some staffers at Channel 10 are hoping Lisa’s absence will be a ‘circuit-breaker’ that helps boost the show’s poor ratings.    

‘Mood right now: hello holidays! Maggie’s mood right now: put me down!!!’ she captioned the photo. Lisa will take a break from The Project for three weeks

It comes after several details in promotional extracts for Lisa’s book were disputed by media insiders and her former employer Channel Nine.

There is a particularly contentious chapter dedicated to her sacking from Nine and falling out with former Today show co-host Karl Stefanovic.

Lisa maintains Karl earned double her salary to do the same job, and that when she asked for a pay rise she was unceremoniously sacked.

Break: The veteran journalist, 61, is not scheduled to return until December 5, reports The Australian, but Channel 10 is denying her absence has anything to do with the show’s poor ratings or the negative publicity surrounding Lisa’s new autobiography. Pictured from left: The Project hosts Waleed Aly, Carrie Bickmore, Lisa Wilkinson and Peter Helliar

Disputed: It comes after several details in promotional extracts for Lisa’s book were disputed by media insiders and her former employer Channel Nine. 

But it has since been claimed Lisa actually earned more than Karl for years when they first joined forces on the breakfast program in 2007.

Lisa’s pay demands have also been disputed: Nine insists she had unreasonable expectations, while she says she simply asked for a fairer share of the show’s profits.

The debate surrounding these claims has dominated headlines for the past few weeks and has no doubt been a headache for Channel 10 execs.

Lisa earns a reported $1.7million per year for her work on The Project and its Sunday edition, but is rumoured to be getting a pay cut due to the low ratings.

Dispute: It comes after details in promotional extracts for Lisa’s book were disputed by media insiders and her former employer Channel Nine. There is a particularly contentious chapter dedicated to her sacking from Nine and falling out with ex-Today co-host Karl Stefanovic (left)