The Talk hits new ratings low after Sharon Osbourne’s dramatic exit following race row

The Talk has suffered its lowest ratings ever, three months after Sharon Osbourne’s headline-making exit as a co-host.

The 68-year-old quit the US talk show following a heated debate about race with co-star Sheryl Underwood.

Sharon came under fire for saying she ‘stood with’ Piers Morgan, who quit Good Morning Britain after he allegedly refused to apologize for criticizing Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s interview with Oprah Winfrey. 

The Talk was pulled off the air while an investigation was carried out, and during that break, Sharon decided to quit.

However, ratings have suffered since the show returned without Sharon, with the CBS program came in dead last in ratings against other daytime broadcast shows.

According to Soap Opera Network, The Talk came in last place in the Women 18-49 demographic for daytime broadcast ratings. 

The talk show came in at number 13 with a 0.2 rating, 0.04 less than the previous week and 0.01 less than last year.

ABC’s competing talk show, The View, beat it by a few spots, coming in at number 6, with a 0.36 rating, which is up from both the previous week and last year.

The news came shortly after it was confirmed that the program has been renewed for another season.

‘JUST ANNOUNCED! #TheTalk has been officially renewed for another year on @CBS returning for a 12th season in 2021-2022! More fun, more topics, more talk!,’ a Twitter post read.

Sharon was the last original cast member of the series remaining, having joined the show in 2010 alongside Sara Gilbert, Julie Chen, Leah Remini, Marissa Jaret Winokur and Holly Robinson Peete.

Sheryl Underwood, Carrie Ann Inaba, Amanda Kloots and Elaine Welteroth now take up the panel show’s seats.

A replacement for Sharon has not yet been revealed by either CBS or The Talk but according to The Sun, the network is in talks with Jerry O’Connell to replace her as a permanent host.

Sharon’s former co-stars are said to be keen to have a Latina star on the panel, with a source saying: ‘That door should be opened. It’s time for a Latina voice to have a platform.’

The Talk airs weekdays on CBS.

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