The Talk CANCELLED! Daytime series to end with season 15 - three years after Sharon Osbourne was fired amid racism claims

CBS' long-running daytime staple, The Talk is set to end this year after 15 seasons. 

The network made the official announcement on Friday morning following months of rumors and low ratings in the wake of Sharon Osbourne's departure in 2021.

'The Talk broke new ground when it launched 14 years ago by returning daytime talk to CBS with a refreshing and award-winning format,' CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach and CBS Studios prexy David Stapf said in a joint statement. 'Throughout the years, it has been a key program on CBS’ top rated daytime line-up as it brought timely, important and entertaining topics and discussions into living rooms around the globe.'

The duo continued: 'It goes without saying that hosting and producing a year-round talk show is no easy task, and we express our sincere gratitude to our amazing hosts Akbar Gbajabiamila, Amanda Kloots, Natalie Morales, Jerry O’Connell and Sheryl Underwood.' 

CBS' long-running daytime staple The Talk, which first premiered in 2010, is set to end this year after 15 seasons (hosts Elaine Welteroth, Carrie Ann Inaba, Sharon Osbourne, Sheryl Underwood and Amanda Kloots pictured above) 

The network made the official announcement on Friday morning following months of rumors and low ratings following the departures of former hosts Julie Chen and Sharon Osbourne (seen above in 2021)

'We also want to acknowledge our former show hosts and colleagues who contributed throughout the seasons. We truly appreciate the skill, creativity, and dedication everyone involved brought to the show every day,' Reisenbach and Stapf concluded. 

The final season will conclude in December 2024 with a 'proper sendoff.'

The cancellation comes as CBS is developing a new daytime drama titled The Gates. 

The show's long-running executive producer Kristin Matthews stepped down in June of 2023, the outlet reported, with The Late Late Show with James Corden executive producer Rob Crabbe replacing her in the spot. 

According to Deadline, the series, which first premiered in 2010, had become the 'lowest-rated show on the CBS daytime lineup.' 

Still, the show is said to be the third most-watched series in the genre, with The View and Live! With Kelly and Mark commanding larger audiences. 

The program's original hosts included Osbourne, Sara Gilbert, Julie Chen Moonves,  Holly Robinson Peete, Leah Remini and Marissa Janet Winokur.

Over the years, Aisha Tyler, Eve, Carrie Ann Inaba, Marie Osmond and Elaine Welteroth have filled openings as hosts. 

The Talk earned an impressive Daytime Emmy Awards and a total of 56 nominations. 

Following Osbourne's exit and and none of original co-hosts sitting at the table after season 11, viewership dipped drastically. 

The 'final season' will conclude in December 2024

Before Osbourne, 71, left the show in a blaze of controversy, The Wrap had reported how The Talk was bringing in an average of 1.509 million daily viewers from September 2020 through to March this year. 

After Osbourne's heated exchange about racism with co-host Sheryl Underwood, the talk show went on hiatus, going into four weeks of re-runs. 

When the show returned without Osbourne, it reportedly averaged 1.305 million total viewers between April 12 to May 16 - losing 204,000 viewers each day, resulting in a 14% drop.

In March, Deadline reported the program has dropped 'down double digits' in the demographic of 'persons and women 18-49.' 

The controversy began when Osbourne delivered a vociferous defense of Morgan, who quit Good Morning Britain after furious criticism of his staunch insistence that he did not believe Markle's explosive claims in her interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Allegations then emerged that Osbourne made racist remarks about co-hosts behind the scenes at The Talk, claims which she has staunchly denied.

The program's original hosts included Osbourne, Sara Gilbert, Julie Chen Moonves, Holly Robinson Peete, Leah Remini and Marissa Janet Winokur (seen in 2018)

'Sharon Osbourne has decided to leave The Talk,' CBS said in a statement confirming her departure in March, 2021. 'The events of the March 10 broadcast were upsetting to everyone involved, including the audience watching at home.'

'As part of our review, we concluded that Sharon's behavior toward her co-hosts during the March 10 episode did not align with our values for a respectful workplace,' the statement continued.

'We also did not find any evidence that CBS executives orchestrated the discussion or blindsided any of the hosts,' CBS said, responding to allegations from Osbourne's camp that she was 'set up to fail' by being spurred into the debate by producers.

'At the same time, we acknowledge the network and studio teams, as well as the showrunners, are accountable for what happened during that broadcast as it was clear the co-hosts were not properly prepared by the staff for a complex and sensitive discussion involving race,' the statement added.

'During this week's hiatus, we are coordinating workshops, listening sessions and training about equity, inclusion and cultural awareness for the hosts, producers and crew. Going forward, we are identifying plans to enhance the producing staff and producing procedures to better serve the hosts, the production and, ultimately, our viewers,' CBS said.

The cancellation comes as CBS is currently developing a new daytime drama titled The Gates

On The Talk, Osbourne defended Morgan in an on-air debate with Underwood, which turned heated.

'Educate me, tell me when you have heard him say racist things,' Osbourne said of Morgan to Underwood, who is black.

'I very much feel like I'm about to be put in the electric chair because I have a friend, who many people think is a racist, so that makes me a racist?' Osbourne added.

That led to a dust-up with Underwood, who was taken aback by the fierceness of Osbourne's defense.

Osbourne issued an apology for her remarks, but the show went into hiatus as CBS launched an investigation.