We were mid-yawn, packing up dinner, stretching our toes and preparing for a Wednesday night like any other, when Elmo fromSesame Streetappeared onThe Project.

The moment he took his seat with the panel, suited up for the occasion, everything. changed.

All of a sudden we were five years old again, trying to secretly hide our eyes when Count von Count appeared on the screen and worrying about the fate of Oscar the Grouch living in a garbage can.

Then there was that laugh.That laugh.

There was something adorable and oh-so-understandable about the show’s esteemed host Waleed Aly leaning in, eyes alight, as he interviewed Elmo.

“Why are you always so positive?” Waleed asked. (Shh, Waleed. Just keep him laughing.)

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Fellow panellist Peter Helliar was definitely star struck; Elmo didnotneed to be warned about catching Chlamydia from koalas, and the look on his face said it all.

(We’ve all done the word-vomit-to-cover-up-nerves when meeting someone intimidating. So we feel your pain, Pete.)

The panel also received an Elmo rendition of Adele’sRolling in The Deep.Heart. Melted.

Before that little red face in his mini suit and tie, we were feeling exhausted after International Women’s Day; that it will be 2060 before there is equal pay and why should my brother retire with 50 per cent more superannuation than me? (I’ve always tried to beat him ateverything.)

Before his laugh and his dancing and his little orange button nose, we were dreading Thursday and Friday and trying to find the brain power to calculate exactly how many working hours there are until the weekend.

Elmo was just what we needed, and who would have guessed?

IM NOT CRYING YOURE CRYING @theprojecttv OK NO IM 100% ON THE COUCH CRYING @elmo

— Bronte Willis (@BronteWillis) March 8, 2017

THIS IS THE CUTEST THING I’VE EVER SEEN #TheProjectTV @theprojecttv

— Jordyn (@jordynwrites) March 8, 2017

Tonight, one small, suited-up puppet brought a panel of serious media personalities completely undone…

And we were in pieces right along with them.