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Akbar Gbajabiamila is joining the table of The Talk, just days after news Elaine Welteroth would be making her exit after only one season.

The American Ninja Warrior host, 42, will join Sheryl Underwood, Amanda Kloots and Jerry O'Connell on the panel following a tumultuous year for the CBS show.

In March, Sharon Osbourne, 68, ended her 10-year run at The Talk after an on-air row over her defense of comments made by her friend Piers Morgan.

And earlier this month, it was announced that another panelist, Carrie Ann Inaba, will 'not be returning' following her months-long hiatus post-scandal.

© Provided by Daily Mail New guy: Akbar Gbajabiamila of NBC's American Ninja Warrior is joining the table of The Talk after a tumultuous season saw three hosts make their exits

© Provided by Daily Mail Exit: On Tuesday news Elaine Welteroth would be making her exit after only one season emerged

Gbajabiamila seems eager to help The Talk ring in a new era, as the second male host and first ever Black man on the panel.

Talking about his new job in a statement, the former NFL player said: 'It is an absolute honor to be joining The Talk as a host! I am so excited for this new generation of such a long-standing establishment. 

'To be a part of this diverse group, is truly a dream and a new statement for The Talk. 

'In a world as divided as ours, I look forward to showing up as my fun and authentic self everyday and advocating for conversation over confrontation.' 

Heather Gray, executive producer and showrunner of The Talk, also struck an optimistic tone, saying: 'It's a new day in daytime for Season 12 of The Talk and we are thrilled to welcome Akbar to the family. 

'His engaging personality, openness and quick wit really impressed us when he appeared as a guest co-host last season.'

© Provided by Daily Mail So long: In March, Sharon Osbourne, 68, ended her 10-year run

© Provided by Daily Mail Leaving: Earlier this month, it was announced that Carrie Ann Inabawill 'not be returning' following her months-long hiatus

On Tuesday, word that Elaine Welteroth was leaving the The Talk after just one season emerged, making the second full-time panelist to depart the CBS show in the last two weeks and the third since Sharon Osbourne quit earlier this year.

Earlier this month, it was announced that Ann Inaba, will 'not be returning' to moderate and co-host The Talk after announcing her leave of absence on April 26 'to focus on my well-being.' She joined the show in 2017.

Osbourne, the 68-year-old music manager and wife of Black Sabbath front man Ozzy Osbourne, left in late March after a heated debate over her friend Piers Morgan saw her publicly fall out with Sheryl Underwood and other co-stars. 

The row began when Morgan stormed out of the British talk show Good Morning Britain on March 9 after saying he didn't believe Meghan Markle was suicidal following her bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.

When asked to comment on his remarks on The Talk the following day, Osbourne said that although she disagreed with Morgan, she supported his right to express his controversial opinion on TV.

© Provided by Daily Mail Welteroth departs after just one season as a permanent co-host. She is seen alongside last season's full-time cast. From left: Welteroth, Carrie Ann Inaba, Sharon Osbourne, Sheryl Underwood, and Amanda Kloots

Underwood, who is black, pushed back hard and accused Osbourne of downplaying Morgan's comments and giving 'validation' to his 'racist' views.

The Talk was sent on a month-long hiatus following the heated on-air debate but Osbourne was essentially forced to quit the show. 

The incident sparked a wider conversation about race and an internal investigation at CBS after Welteroth, 34, reportedly complained of 'a racially insensitive and hostile environment' at the show.

Welteroth and Underwood would later address the controversy on air weeks later,  saying the two had been forced to stay 'composed' in the face of someone 'who was not listening and who went off the rails into disrespect.'

© Provided by Daily Mail Osbourne came under fire on The Talk in March after defending friend Piers Morgan in an on-air debate with co-host Sheryl Underwood, who accused him of making racist remarks

© Provided by Daily Mail Welteroth (left) was part of the heated discussion on race during the March 10 episode that saw Osbourne publicly fall out with her co-stars and subsequently end her ten-year run on the show

But an audio recording obtained by DailyMail.com shows Welteroth taking quite a different tone when she discussed the incident with Osbourne behind the scenes after the show.

Gallery: 'The Talk' Just Lost Its Third Co-Host This Year (Best Life)

According to the source who shared the footage, the conversation was captured on Welteroth's microphone which was still hot when she visited a distraught Osbourne in her dressing room after they finished taping. 

The clip begins with Osbourne, who was with her makeup artist and her son Jack, sobbing as Welteroth explains that she had pushed back against producers when they asked her to initiate the heated discussion. 

'They asked me to ask that question. I said, no I'm not going to ask that question,' Welteroth says. 'I said to them, this is going to be a train wreck. 

'Sharon, I'm just so sorry that that went the way that it went.' 

Welteroth then goes on to try to console Osbourne and reassure her that she has her co-stars' support. 

'I just want you to know, Sharon. Sheryl loves you and respects you so much and had your back behind the scenes. She was not trying to attack you,' she says. 

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'We wish Elaine all the best. We are grateful for her passion, enthusiasm, and insight she brought to the show daily,' executive produces Heather Gray and Kristin Matthews said in a statement to Deadline.

'Her openness and meaningful conversations were attributes we admired and always appreciated.'  

In recent years, several prominent names have left the show, including creator Sara Gilbert, Marie Osmond, Aisha Tyler, Carnie Wilson, Julie Chen Moonves, and Eve. 

Welteroth began guest hosting the show in late 2020, and officially joined the line up as a full-time panelist in January this year. 

© Provided by Daily Mail Osbourne took a stand on The Talk the following day, saying that although she disagreed with him, she supported his right to express his controversial opinion on TV

In a statement to Deadline, Welteroth said: 'It is an absolute honor for anyone, but especially a young Black woman, to occupy space on-air where our perspectives are largely underrepresented.'

She added: 'It was gratifying to be able to show up as my authentic self in front of a live national audience every day in a world as divided as ours and to stay true to myself and what I stand for.' 

Welteroth, an author and journalist, said she will now focus on other projects. 

Welteroth is a judge on the hit reality TV show Project Runway, which airs on Bravo. The show will return for its 19th season in October.

Her memoir, More Than Enough, is being developed into a TV series by Paramount TV Studios and Anonymous Content.

Welteroth also teaches a career planning class on the streaming platform Master Class. 

Hinting that it was her decision to leave, she added: 'I always say: when the music changes, so must your dance!' 

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© Provided by Daily Mail The drama between Osbourne and her co-stars began after Sharon was grilled over her tweet stating her support for friend Piers Morgan after he was fired for criticizing Meghan Markle's bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey

Before becoming a full-time panelist on The Talk in January of this year, Welteroth had several guest-hosting stints.

She and Amanda Kloots became permanent co-hosts at the same time. The two were brought in to replace Marie Osmond and Eve, both of whom left the show the previous season.

Underwood is the only remaining full-time panelist who was on the show when it began taping last September.

Osbourne was eventually replaced by actor Jerry O’Connell.

Inaba took to Instagram to announce her departure from the show. It was reported that Osbourne's exit 'did not sit well' with her.

The Talk producers are now said to be eager to hire a man to fill the one remaining slot on the panel.

Some possible names that have been mentioned are NFL star Victor Cruz, Sugar Ray frontman Mark McGrath, preacher DeVon Franklin, Shark Tank investor Daymond John, retired NBA star Jalen Rose, American Idol mentor Bobby Bones, and former SNL star Jay Pharoah. 

© Provided by Daily Mail Earlier this month, co-host Carrie Ann Inaba, 53, announced she and The Talk had 'mutually agreed to part ways' in an Instagram statement just four months after she took a leave of absence from the show