Joy Behar is leaving The View. After 16 and a half years, one of the original members of The View’s line-up is leaving for pastures new. The 70 year-old comedian started on the show, along with Barbara Walters and whilst other cast members have come and gone, Behar has been one of the show’s mainstays.

The ABC Network, who produce the show have confirmed that Behar will be leaving at the end of the current season and in a statement, said that they wish her “all the best in this next chapter, and are thrilled that we have her for the remainder of the season.” ABC also added “Joy Behar has been instrumental in the success of 'The View' from the very beginning.” As for Behar’s comment on the situation, she told the press that it “seemed like the right time to move on.” Whoopi Goldberg, Barbara Walters, Sherri Shepherd and Elisabeth Hasselbeck will remain on the show.

Joy Behar
Joy Behar is leaving The View after over 16 years on the show

As well as hosting The View, Joy Behar has also hosted her own show, The Joy Behar Show and Joy Behar: Say Anything, which debuted last year and currently airs on Current TV. She started her career in show business in the early 1980s as a stand-up comedian. The current season of The View is scheduled to run until August.