Crack open the Kleenex and let the countdown to farewell begin: Retiring TV personality Regis Philbin has revealed that Nov. 18 will be his last day as co-host of the longrunning breakfast gabfest Live! with Regis & Kelly.

In January, Reege — who has been plagued by health issues, including heart surgery, in recent years — announced that he planned to leave Live! before by year’s end, but he hadn’t specified a date. Until now. The show will continue with Kelly Ripa, who joined him as a replacement co-host for Kathie Lee Gifford about a decade ago.

Still no word on who’ll be coming aboard to join Kelly as a new co-host. (Any suggestions?)

Philbin, who turned 80 last month, has been a fixture on the small screen since the 1950s. The three-time Emmy Award winner was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in 2008.

Can Live! survive without Reege?

Written by Castina on September 6th, 2011 | Tagged as: Live With Regis & Kelly,Regis Philbin,TV,TV News