EXCLUSIVE: Sherri Shepherd set to return to The View to help save the collapsing show

  • Daily Mail Online learned exclusively that Sherri Shepherd will return to The View on a part-time basis starting this fall
  • She will be one of the new rotating hosts that will sit in the fifth position on the show and will co-host at least twice a week
  • Joining Shepherd in the rotating position is fashion expert Stacey London, model Molly Sims and conservative actress Candace Cameron Bure
  • Shepherd returned to the show for the first time since leaving in August 2013 on May 28 and received rave reviews from ABC News executives 

Former The View co-host Sherri Shepherd is returning the the struggling daytime talk show on a part-time basis starting this fall

Former The View co-host Sherri Shepherd is returning the the struggling daytime talk show on a part-time basis starting this fall

Former The View co-host Sherri Shepherd is returning to her old job. 

Daily Mail Online has learned exclusively that the Emmy-winning TV talent has inked a deal with ABC, according to sources close to the show, to return to struggling daytime talk show on a part-time basis starting this fall.

Shepherd is one of The View's new rotating hosts that will sit in the fifth position on the show, a new concept ABC hopes brings fresh energy to the long-running panel series. According to an insider, the current plans are to have Shepherd co-host at least twice a week.

The 48-year-old comedienne returned to The View for the first time since leaving in August 2014 on May 28 to rave reviews from ABC News executives.

‘Though the show was taped in advance and Whoopi Goldberg was out dealing with the death of her brother, everyone was blown away by how Sherri brought the energy of a live broadcast to the taped show. She had been so missed by the producers that many of them cried when she walked in the building,’ a network source told Daily Mail Online.

Shepherd joined The View during its highest-rated season in 2007 and co-hosted for seven seasons. She won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show Host during her tenure, but left the show in August 2014 after failing to come to terms contractually with ABC.

As reported by Vanity Fair, Shepherd was seeking a raise and shorter contract term from ABC, who refused to give her additional salary and wanted her to sign a long-term deal. In the end, she left with Jenny McCarthy and several of the senior producers after season 17.

'The excitement over asking her to return began as soon as her May 28 episode aired. ABC was insistent on making things work this time,' the source added.

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Shepherd left the show in August 2014. She returned for the first time on May 28 (pictured) and received rave reviews from ABC News executives

Shepherd left the show in August 2014. She returned for the first time on May 28 (pictured) and received rave reviews from ABC News executives

Expected to join Shepherd in the rotating host position is fashion expert Stacey London, model Molly Sims and conservative actress Candace Cameron Bure. 

ABC News originally approached former The View host Joy Behar about returning in the same capacity, but negotiations ‘did not go well at all,’ explained our source.

'Joy has guest co-hosted at least 20 times since January, but feels the backstage environment of the show has changed for the worse since when she left in 2013. Whoopi really runs the show now and Joy doesn't like how Whoopi is a mean dictator behind the scenes,' the source revealed.

ABC is planning a big reveal for the new rotating co-host concept before The View goes on hiatus the first week in August. 

In the meantime, the network is still trying to resolve what's going to happen with co-host Nicolle Wallace. 

Shepherd will be one of several rotating guest hosts on the show and will appear at least twice a week, an insider told Daily Mail Online

Shepherd will be one of several rotating guest hosts on the show and will appear at least twice a week, an insider told Daily Mail Online

Despite becoming a fan favorite because of her ability to present conservative Republican views in a warm manner, some of the new executives overseeing the show want someone with the polarizing personality of Elizabeth Hasselbeck.

'Nicolle is a hit with viewers. She's gone from being the least-known of the new co-hosts, to a favorite of the audience members and even the celebrity guests who appear on the show. Arsenio Hall has tweeted her praise and Joy always says "now you're a Republican I really like;" but ABC is considering someone less compassionate in their presentation like Candace,' our source offered.

Last week, Rosie Perez announced her exit from the show following the end of season 18. ABC also revealed that comedienne Michelle Collins would be joining the show as a full-time co-host next season as well.

The View premiered in 1997 with original co-hosts Barbara Walters, Meredith Vieira, Behar, Star Jones and Debbie Matenopoulos. 

Since then, the show has constantly stayed in the headlines - mostly for its talent issues and backstage drama - and has had a variety of additional hosts including Lisa Ling, Rosie O’Donnell and Jenny McCarthy.

Shepherd, pictured here during her appearance on the talk show on May 28, co-hosted the show for seven seasons before leaving in 2014

Shepherd, pictured here during her appearance on the talk show on May 28, co-hosted the show for seven seasons before leaving in 2014

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