After 13 seasons, Marilyn Denis announced today that this will be the final season of her daytime talk and lifestyle program, The Marilyn Denis Show, on CTV.
“Hosting a national television show has been a career highlight, and such a rewarding and fulfilling chapter in my life, but after more than three decades of balancing my radio show with a daytime series I’m ready to step away and refocus on my family and other projects,” said Denis, in a Bell Media announcement. “While I’m moving on from daytime TV, I’m not saying goodbye and will continue on the CHUM morning show and with my podcast. I want to thank the entire team at The Marilyn Denis Show who are and always will be family, the incredible experts and guests who have joined me over the years, and most importantly – every studio audience member and the viewers at home for welcoming me into your lives. I’ll be forever grateful for the wonderful years we’ve spent together.”
Denis, 64, stressed in her announcement on-air, which was met with audible disappointment by the in-studio audience, that the decision to leave the television show is hers.
“I want to be clear. I’m not retiring and I’m very, very healthy…I’m going to be 65, that’s true, but I’m looking forward to spending more time with my family, especially that beautiful grandaughter, Everly.”
Denis will continue on the CHUM 104.5 Toronto morning show, alongside Jamar McNeil, where she’s been a fixture for 37 years, in addition to her podcast, Marilyn Denis Does A Podcast.
Starting Monday, May 8, The Marilyn Denis Show will celebrate the show’s run with highlights from its more than 2,000 episodes, special guests, and more, culminating in a farewell episode on Friday, June 9 at 10 a.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT.
“Marilyn is a trailblazer with a relatable and authentic approach that has made her a much-beloved figure in Canadian broadcasting and to viewers across the country,” said Dave Daigle, Vice-President, Local TV, Radio, and Bell Media Studios. “While we are truly sad to see The Marilyn Denis Show end, we are proud to have been the home of this incredible series. We will miss seeing Marilyn on TV every day, but we are happy she’ll remain with the company on CHUM 104.5. I want to thank Marilyn and the production team for their dedication as they made the show a destination for our viewers and guests alike.”
Denis has balanced the demands of both radio and television throughout her career. Born in Edmonton, but raised in Pennsylvania, she got her start in broadcasting in 1976 at a local radio station in Moscow, Idaho, before moving to Calgary to join CHFM and CJAY-FM, also working at CTV Calgary as a sports, weather, and entertainment reporter and freelancer for TSN. She joined the CHUM morning show in 1986. From 1989 to 2008, she hosted Cityline, which aired on Citytv and A-Channel stations across the country.
CTV says a new daytime programming lineup, including a new series, will be announced later this year.
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