Ellen DeGeneres is calling time on her daytime talk show after 19 seasons.

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Murmurs hit the news wire earlier today, but the star herself just confirmed the development in an interview with

She will expound on the decision in a sitdown with fellow talkshow icon Oprah Winfrey on the May 13 edition of ‘Ellen.’

Speaking with THR, DeGengeres said:

“I was going to stop after season 16. That was going to be my last season and they wanted to sign for four more years and I said I’d sign for maybe for one. They were saying there was no way to sign for one. “We can’t do that with the affiliates and the stations need more of a commitment.” So, we [settled] on three more years and I knew that would be my last. That’s been the plan all along. And everybody kept saying, even when I signed, “You know, that’s going to be 19, don’t you want to just go to 20? It’s a good number.” So is 19.”

She added:

“When we did our 3,000th show, they showed that highlights montage and everybody was emotional. We all hugged and everyone had tears in their eyes, and Mike Darnell was here going, “You really want to [end this]?” Look, it’s going to be really hard on the last day, but I also know it’s time. I’m a creative person, and when you’re a creative person you constantly need to be challenged, which is why I decided to host the Oscars or why I decided to go back to stand up when I didn’t think I would. I just needed something to challenge me. And as great as this show is, and as fun as it is, it’s just not a challenge anymore. I need something new to challenge me.”

The end of the hit series comes amid a downward trend in ratings and a workplace scandal that saw senior producers at the show accused of bullying and creating a toxic environment. DeGeneres herself was not accused of anything concrete. However, in being the marquee name and executive force of the ship, she found herself embroiled in the drama.

‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ will have been on-air for 18 years by the time it wraps in 2022.

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