Regis Philbin: 'Live! exit is bittersweet'

Regis Philbin has described leaving his daytime series Live! as "bittersweet".

The legendary chatshow host is to retire this week after nearly 29 years of interviewing celebrities alongside a variety of co-hosts.

In an interview with friend Jerry Seinfeld for Newsweek, Philbin said he feels both a sense of accomplishment and sadness to be ending his Live! tenure.

"I feel bittersweet about it. But I'm kind of relieved," he admitted. "It's got to come some time. It's not scary, because God knows we've all made enough money to keep us going. But it's going to be a change."

Philbin also reflected on first entering the entertainment industry more than 50 years ago, saying: "You know, I never knew if I had any talent when I started in this business. My first job was being a page at The Tonight Show.

"I saw Jack Paar come out one night and sit on the edge of his desk and talk about what he'd done the night before. I thought, 'I can do that!' I used to do that on a street corner in the Bronx with all my buddies!"

Donald Trump, David Letterman and Kathie Lee Gifford will all appear on Live! this week to pay tribute to Regis prior to his last show on Friday.

Seinfeld will fill in as Kelly Ripa's co-host for three days later this month, while Neil Patrick Harris will guest from November 28 to early December.

> Kelly Ripa signs five-year Live! deal