Ellen DeGeneres's talk show to end in 2022

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chief | 13 May 2021

Ellen DeGeneres confirms that her long-running talk show will end next year but insists that it has nothing to do with the 'toxic workplace' allegations last year.

Ellen DeGeneres has announced that her talk show will come to an end next year following its 19th season.

The news comes after a series of allegations about a "toxic" workplace atmosphere behind the scenes at the show last summer, a story which led to the departure of several key executives and an on-air apology from DeGeneres.

Announcing her decision, however, the 63-year-old insisted that the controversy had not been a factor and that she believed the show has simply run its course.

"When you're a creative person, you constantly need to be challenged - and as great as this show is, and as fun as it is, it's just not a challenge anymore," she told The Hollywood Reporter.

"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 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."

Watch an emotional DeGeneres announce the news on her show below: