Barbara Walters is expected to make an announcement in the coming weeks regarding her retirement. The 84-year-old host of The View and iconic TV personality on ABC is likely to retire in May of 2014, at the end of the TV season. With the year Walters has been having, it’s actually a little surprising the woman will not be leaving the business sooner.
Walters has suffered several setbacks this year. She initially had to be hospitalized after a fall and later contracted chickenpox while in the hospital. Chickenpox can be a really big problem for young and old patients, but luckily Walters seemed to get extremely good treatment and has been back at work on The View in recent weeks. Still, after a health scare, one would think the woman might sit down and decide it’s time to take life a little slower.
According to THR, Walters may continue on the view for another year thanks to Joy Behar and Elisabeth Hasselbeck leaving of the show. Losing three valuable cast members at one time could be a big problem for The View and Walters is shrewd enough to know her value on ABC’s morning program. Signing on for one more year at the network will give ABC time to hire two new cast members first and one more later, or to alternatively put together a new daytime program should it prove better to say goodbye The View.
We’ll let you know as soon as Walters confirms the retirement news and gives fans an official goodbye date.
