Jerry O’Connell is joining CBS’s ‘The Talk’ as a permanent co-host, replacing Sharon Osbourne who left earlier this year. The 47-year-old O’Connell has guest-hosted the show for the past few months; he joins co-hosts Sheryl Underwood, Amanda Kloots and Elaine Welteroth and Carrie Ann Inaba (who is currently on a leave of absence from the series.)

Jerry said during Wednesday’s show after the announcement: “It’s really exciting. First of all I want to say, you ladies have been so welcoming to me, I mean, I came here as a guest, months ago, and just from the moment I walked in, you’re just gracious, you’re kind, you’re fun, and it worked.  And here we are and we’re gonna have a lot of fun, we really are.”

O’Connell is the first male co-host to ever be instituted on The Talk.  Osbourne exited the show after getting in an on-air argument with co-host Underwood. The two were discussing Piers Morgan’s comments regarding Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey. The debate between Osbourne and Underwood would lead to an investigation after Welteroth complained of “a racially insensitive and hostile environment” o the show.

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