Winfrey bids fond farewell to fans
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Oprah Winfrey has recorded the final episode of her US talk show (AP)
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Wednesday May 25 2011
An emotional Oprah Winfrey took to the stage alone for the final episode of her US talk show, talking to viewers about what they have meant to her during its 25-year run.
Fans leaving the show recorded in Chicago said Oprah had tears in her eyes as she said a final thank you.
"She said, 'This isn't goodbye. This is until we meet again'," said Amy Korin, 32.
Oprah then kissed and hugged her long-time partner Stedman Graham and made her way through the halls of Harpo Studios, saying goodbye to her staff, audience members said. She kept saying, "We did it! We did it!," Ms Korin said, and giving employees high-fives.
There was a single chair on the stage, but Oprah stood most of the time, audience members said.
Audience members described a simply-produced series finale filled with a sense of gratitude.
"It was just her the whole time, a recap of what she believed in, what we've given her as viewers and what she hopes she has given us," said Nancy Evankoe, 60, who went to the recording with her daughter.
Oprah announced in November 2009 that she would end her popular talk show after 25 years and the taping comes a week after Hollywood's A-list and 13,000 fans bid her farewell during a double-episode extravaganza at Chicago's United Centre.
The shows included Aretha Franklin, Tom Cruise, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jordan and Madonna, among other stars of TV, music and movies.
The bare-bones final taping had its share of celebrities in the audience including Tyler Perry, Maria Shriver, Suze Orman and Cicely Tyson, but none of them joined Oprah on stage. There were 404 audience members, according to Harpo Productions.
Press Association
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