(AP Photo/John Locher, File)
Ellen DeGeneres is officially taking a step back from her talk show.
The Hollywood Reporter shared on Wednesday that The Ellen DeGeneres Show will be ending with its upcoming 19th season. Ellen shared the news with her staff on Tuesday and will be having a conversation with Oprah Winfrey to discuss the decision on Thursday’s show.
“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,” DeGeneres shared with The Hollywood Reporter of her decision.
“Although all good things must come to an end, you still have hope that truly great things never will,” Warner Bros.’ unscripted TV president Mike Darnell shared. He continued to call the show “an absolute phenomenon,” and added that it established itself “as the premiere destination for both superstars and incredible heartfelt human-interest stories.”
The Ellen DeGeneres Show first aired in 2003 and the hit program has earned 64 Daytime Emmys over the show’s longtime run.
The announcement of Ellen’s talk show coming to an end follows a year of controversy amid allegations of a toxic workplace behind-the-scenes. DeGeneres has since addressed the controversy and an internal investigation was prompted, but the show has lost more than a million viewers since, according to Nielsen ratings.