Former chat show host Rove McManus is expected to replace Charlie Pickering as co-host of The Project on Channel Ten.

AUSTRALIAN television funnyman Rove McManus is ­heading back to the network that made him a household name and will return to prime time as host of Channel 10’s The Project.

Confidential can reveal the 40-year-old is expected to put his signature to a contract today and will begin his new role midway through next month. He replaces comedian Charlie Pickering, who ­announced his resignation ­earlier this year.

The marquee signing will reunite McManus with comedic mate Peter Helliar and the hugely popular Carrie Bickmore, who both found celebrity on Rove Live in the 2000s.

GALLERY — THE PROJECT’S CARRIE BICKMORE

Senior sources at Channel 10 told The Daily Telegraph’s Taylor Auerbach the contract between McManus and the network would be reviewed at the end of the year.

The offer comes as a lifeline to the three-time Gold Logie winner, whose attempts to forge a career in the ruthless US television industry have fallen flat.

His game show Riot was axed after a handful of episodes this year and previous incarnations of his chat show format, once a staple of ­Australian television screens, failed to rate.

His return to Ten is the ­second big homecoming of the year at the network, after executives announced Grant ­Denyer had signed on to host a new-look series of Family Feud. Denyer was once a V8 Supercar reporter with the network.

Matt Doran, who has been filling in on The Project panel since Pickering’s departure, was also in the running to host the show full time.

It is understood Doran was left “gutted” last week when the network told him of the ­decision to go with McManus.

Senior Ten executives are excited about Rove’s signing, which will likely provide a big ratings boost to the flagship show. The Project is already rating solidly and attracts a ­national audience of about 650,000 per night.