Sharon Osbourne reckons UK television shows are more willing to give air-time to people with differing views than the US industry she is leaving behind.
The former X Factor judge, 69, is to host a panel show that will debate the hottest stories of the day on new TV channel TalkTV.
It will be broadcast on weekday nights after Piers Morgan's flagship show on the channel.
Mrs O's 11-year stint on American daytime show The Talk came to an end following an on-air spat she had in March 2021 with a fellow panellist over Morgan's right to express his view that he didn't believe a word that Meghan Markle said during her explosive interview with US television royalty Oprah Winfrey.
In response, Sheryl Underwood challenged Sharon's defence of the ex Good Morning Britain presenter, asking: "What would you say to people who may feel that, while you are standing by your friend, it appears that you gave validation or safe haven to something that he has uttered that is racist, even if you don’t agree?"
Filming of the show was subsequently stopped for a month.
Despite Sharon's suggestion that The Talk screened a one-off special with experts in sensitivity training and racism "going through what we all said and coming to a conclusion so the viewer could make their own decision”, the show's broadcasters CBS went on to issue a statement that read: "Sharon Osbourne has decided to leave The Talk.
"As part of our review, we concluded that Sharon’s behaviour toward her co-hosts during the March 10 episode did not align with our values for a respectful workplace.”
She is now returning to the UK with her husband Ozzy - the former lead singer of Black Sabbath, although the pair will pay regular visits back to the States to see their grandchildren.
Speaking about her new venture and why she is looking forward to working again in the UK, Sharon said at a TalkTV press event: "It feels right. I've been very homesick for a while and it's a joy to go back.
"I'm really excited about it. This is a whole new thing for me to be involved from the beginning of a network. I don't like those shows that they produce over here (in America) where if you don't agree they start slinging chairs at each other and calling each other out.
"It's not personal, it's somebody's opinion so if you don't like it, you tell the person why you don't like it and why you don't agree with them and you move on."
The new TalkTV show will see five opinionated famous personalities with different views and backgrounds take part in an hour-long panel format debate on topical subjects.
Explaining the show's premise, Sharon added: "This is just basically the news with different people views on it, experts mainly, and I'm not an expert but I've definitely got an opinion on everything. It's new, it's innovative and it's a place for everyone that's interested in what's going on in the world to go to without being told what they should be thinking.
"We're not telling anybody that they should be thinking the way we think. We're just opening up the conversation for people to talk at home even after we finish talking.
"It's friendly debate, friendly discussion and I'm not talking we're going to sit there arm in arm. Nothing is off the table and we're just finding a place where you can discuss these things in an adult way and not fear of being let go."
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