Friends of Television presenter Oprah Winfrey have spoken up about her decision to end her popular US talk show in 2011.
According to People magazine, a spokesperson for the presenter announced the news: "The last day will be September 9, 2011. She will speak about it on (Friday's) live show."
Ellen DeGeneres, who is the cover girl (along with Winfrey) on the December issue of O magazine, announced the news to her in-studio audience.
She said: "Right before I came out here, I got a call from Oprah and she told me that she is announcing that next year will be her last year.
"It will be her 25th year, and she feels like it's time for her to stop."
Putting her own career into perspective, DeGeneres, 51, added: "I don't think I could be here without her. I think she has blazed a trail...She is an amazing woman."
In terms of Winfrey's legacy: "She will always be the Queen of Daytime Television and she also said she is leaving me all of her money. I was like, thanks Oprah, thank you!"
Celebrity chef, Martha Stewart, 68, said: "She'll do another show. She's evolving. She's fabulous."
Winfrey, 55, whose current program reaches about 7 million viewers a day, is preparing to start her own cable channel, 'OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network'.
Winfrey's friend Gayle King, 54, who edits 'O Magazine', dismissed any thought of risks involved with something new: "When you think about it, Oprah Winfrey has been No. 1 every single year since she started."
She added: "I think that Oprah always makes the best decision for herself. I really do. And I have a feeling she will come up with some things to do.
"She has a very full life...We don't need to worry about her filling her time, I promise you that! Life is good for her."
2011 will mark 25 years of 'The Oprah Winfrey Show'.
