Barbara Walters to retire 'in May 2014 after a year of specials'

By Hayley Peterson and Rachel Quigley

PUBLISHED: 13:47 EST, 28 March 2013 | UPDATED: 15:15 EST, 28 March 2013

Rumors? Barbara Walters is set to announce she will retire in May 2014

Barbara Walters will retire in May 2014, it was revealed today.

The 'Queen of ABC News', she is rumored to be announcing her retirement in the coming weeks after a spate of illnesses which had seen her off the air for weeks.

According to Deadline, the 83-year-old will be given a big sendoff with retrospectives and other special content in the weeks leading to her retirement that would celebrate her 52-year broadcast career.

It is unclear whether or not she will remain completely off the air or make occasional appearances and specials.

There have been rumors about Barbara's retirement for years, which kicked off after she first accidentally told President Obama in December 2011.

She laughed off the incident as a joke but after she fell and then was hospitalized with chicken pox, many wondered if she would return to the airwaves.

But last month she resumed her duties on The View, which she produces and hosts, and at ABC News.

Walters is best known as one of the top interviewers on U.S. television, counting an array of world leaders as subjects, including Cuba's Fidel Castro, Britain's Margaret Thatcher, Saddam Hussein of Iraq and every U.S. president since Richard Nixon.

She got her start in television journalism in 1961 as a writer on NBC's Today, a show that she would later co-anchor.

Earlier this month, Walters was forced to hit back at claims that co-host Elizabeth Hasselbeck was going to be fired from The View for being 'too conservative'.

Right now the only person who cannot leave this show is me,' Walters said, following a story that appeared in the New York Daily News claiming that she might step down from her role as executive producer and co-host.

She added that rumors of Hasselbeck getting fired are 'false' though it looks unlikely she will stay in the role much longer after the recent rumors.

Walters is best known as one of the top interviewers on U.S. television, counting an array of world leaders as subjects, including Cuba's Fidel Castro, Britain's Margaret Thatcher, Saddam Hussein of Iraq and every U.S. president since Richard Nixon

Walters got her start in television journalism in 1961 as a writer on NBC's Today a show that she would later co-anchor

'We have no plans for Elisabeth to leave this show,' she said. 'The truth is we love Elisabeth. I like her personally and she's just a wonderful person.

'But beyond that, we value her point of view.'

Walters made the remarks after one of the show's longtime co-hosts, Joy Behar, announced that she would be leaving, ignited a flurry of reports about the future of 'The View.'

'When you announced this last week,' Walters said to Behar on Monday, 'It was very bittersweet.'

'You have your reasons for wanting to go and I'm happy when you're happy,' she said, adding that she had 'discovered' Behar.

Behar then read off a list of her top 10 reasons for leaving 'The View,' which included: 'ABC won't let me drink on the air like Hoda and Kathy Lee.'

Walters (right) said rumors of Elisabeth Hasselbeck (left) getting fired are 'false'

Not leaving: 'Right now the only person who cannot leave this show is me,' Walters said, following a story that claimed she might step down from her role as executive producer and co-host

Out: Joy Behar said there are many reasons for her decision to leave 'The View,' including that she could not drink on air

Other reasons she gave were: 'I have a pathological fear of catching childhood diseases like mumps from Barbara;' 'The contact high from sitting next to Whoopi keeps giving me the munchies;' 'Like Barbara, I'm developing an unhealthy attraction to Elisabeth;' and 'I'll finally have a chance to fulfill my dreams going a whole week without putting on a brazier.'

Walters didn't address new reports that she is pursuing actress Brook Shields to replace Behar.

According to an exclusive report by ShowBiz411, Barbara Walters wants the 47-year-old actress and mother of two to join the TV panel.

The website's sources say the agreement between ABC and Shields has yet to be finalized, but is very close to being signed.

Linked: Walters and Hasselback walked onto the set arm-in-arm on Monday

Walters reportedly believes that the Princeton-educated, articulate Shields would be a perfect fit, and her extensive Hollywood connections would be invaluable to booking guests.

Ms Shields has not publicly commented on the rumors of her joining the program.

Behar, 70, will be bidding farewell to The View in August when her contract expires after nearly 17 years as a co-host.

Showbiz411 reported that the standup comic and TV stalwart has 'just had enough.' She may be returning to Headline News to host her own talk show again.

‘It seemed like the right time,’ Behar told Deadline. ‘You reach a point when you say to yourself, “Do I want to keep doing this?” There are other things on my plate I want to do — I’ve been writing a play, I’ve been neglecting my stand-up.’

Denied: Barbara Walters rejected rumors that Elisabeth Hasselbeck (right) was fired from 'The View.' She did not address speculation that actress Brooke Shields, 47, is in talks with ABC to join the cast

In a statement to Deadline, ABC said:, ‘Joy Behar has been instrumental in the success of The View from the very beginning. We wish her all the best in this next chapter, and are thrilled that we have her for the remainder of the season.’

After it was announced that Behar will be leaving, Twitter lit up with well-wishers offering the veteran TV presenter their support.

In response, Behar tweeted on Friday: 'Thanks so much for all your very kind words.'

Walters addressed Hasselbeck's future at the show after it was reported last week that the 35-year-old's contract would not be renewed because she was too right-wing for the show's viewership.

Big changes: Elisabeth Hasselbeck, bottom left, reportedly has been ousted from teh show after nearly a decade for being too conservative, while Joy Behar, top right, decided to leave on her own after nearly 17 years

Hasselbeck has been a controversial figure on the show, famously sparring with former co-host Rosie O'Donnell, a liberal, over the war in Afghanistan in 2007 and with Walters over GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney during the 2012 campaign.

But Walters said Monday that Hasselbeck's point of view was a valued part of the show.

The View has had the same cast since 2007, when Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd arrived to replace O'Donnell and Star Jones.

VIDEO  Elisabeth Hasselbeck has 'no plans' to leave the view

Elisabeth Hasselbeck has "no plans" to leave The View