LONDON — Joy Behar announced on May 26, 2026, in a podcast interview that she would be taking two weeks off from her co-hosting duties on 'The View' to work on her play 'My First Ex-Husband' in London. Brian Teta, executive producer of 'The View,' confirmed the temporary departure in the same podcast interview, saying, 'This is your last podcast for a little bit, because next week you’re not going to be here.'
Behar clarified on May 29, 2026, that her absence was not a hiatus but a working trip. 'Okay, so there’s been a lot of media attention on me lately because I’m taking off the next two weeks. They’re calling it a hiatus. It’s not a hiatus,' she said. 'I’m working. I have a planned trip overseas next week to work on my play, “My First Ex-Husband,” in London.'
Her play will be performed at the Boulevard Theatre in London’s West End. The London production features Jackie Hoffman and two British actresses. 'My First Ex-Husband' previously debuted Off-Broadway in New York in February 2025.
Before arriving in London, Behar plans to spend a week in Paris, where she intends to do playwriting in various cafes and visit art exhibits, including one featuring Matisse. She will then take the tunnel from Paris to London to begin rehearsals.
During her absence, guest co-hosts including Sheryl Underwood, Kara Swisher, and Ana Navarro will fill in for Behar. Whoopi Goldberg, who typically does not appear on Fridays, is scheduled to be on the show on those days while Behar is away. Behar normally does not co-host on Mondays.
Behar also told her co-hosts on air, 'Are you going to miss me?' to which several replied, 'We are going to miss you.' Co-host Sara Haines added, 'I love that they’re calling it a hiatus. That’s a break, people, when you stop working.' In addition to the London engagement, Behar said she will be doing another play in the Hamptons at the end of summer titled 'Bonkers in the Boroughs.' She encouraged viewers to visit the official website for 'My First Ex-Husband' to learn where her plays are being performed.