Ellen DeGeneres broke down in tears as she opened her very last talk show episode on Thursday.
The 64-year-old TV presenter was left overwhelmed as she walked through the NBC studio for her final dance with Stephen "tWitch" Boss on the daytime programme.
The Ellen DeGeneres Show came to an end today after nineteen years, nineteen seasons and over three thousand episodes.
Over the past two decades, 64-year-old show host has interviewed the most famous people in the world and amused millions around the globe with her humorous skits.
The show opened with a look back at the host making her entrance from years prior, before the comedian walked out into the studio for the finale.
As she entered, Ellen fought back tears as the audience cheered and the facts of the show’s conclusion seemed to hit.
Ellen collected herself but was then again left emotional as called out dancer tWitch, who has been part of the series since 2014, onto the stage.
She told fans as her voice became thick with emotion: “This show has forever changed my life. It is the greatest experience I have ever had.”
As Ellen gave into the tears, she shared that doing this series had gone “beyond [her] wildest imagination.”
“So, tWitch,” she said. “One last time. Dance with me.”
He came out to more cheers and the pair brought the gathered audience a high-energy dance, moving through the Ellen fans as they shimmied and shook.
During the final episode, Ellen had appearances from Jennifer Aniston, Billie Eilish, and P!nk.
Jennifer's inclusion is a fitting tribute after the Friends actress was the very first guest on the show which debuted in 2003. The finale marks the 20th time Jennifer has appeared on set.
As the show comes to an end, the host has been chatting to a flurry of huge names from the world of showbiz for the final few episodes.
Over the past few weeks, she has chatted to the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Mila Kunis, Justin Timberlake, Zac Efron and Bruno Mars.
Her show came under fire in 2020, when accusations of a toxic workplace environment on the set came to light, and Ellen herself was allegedly at the centre of some complaints regarding her “mean” behaviour.
A report from BuzzFeed included current and former employees who complained about alleged bullying behind-the-scenes, prompting an internal probe of the show by Warner Bros.
Findings indicated “some flaws in the show’s daily management” and in September 2020, Ellen herself apologised for things “that never should have happened”.
“I know that I’m in a position of privilege and power, and I realise that with that comes responsibility, and I take responsibility for what happens at my show,” she told viewers during the opening episode of the show’s 18th season.
“The truth is I am that person that you see on TV. I am also a lot of other things. I get sad. I get mad. I get anxious. I get frustrated. I get impatient. And I am working on all of that,” Ellen confessed.
In May last year, the star announced The Ellen DeGeneres Show would be finishing in 2021, after it wraps up its 19th season.
