The 5th co-host will be announced soon

It has been officially confirmed that another new co-host will be announced soon.

Access Hollywood: As for the mysterious fifth co-host expected to join the show? Walters told Access Hollywood after today's taping, "We will shortly be adding a new member to the panel, and it's not George Clooney as some have suggested — but it is somebody the audience will know (already). That's all I want to say."

ExtraTV: With two comedians already on board, Barbara broke news to "Extra," revealing another one will soon join the permanent panel. "It will be somebody I think who will add to the humor," Barbara confessed. "I will give you no other clues."

Reuters: ABC confirmed Tuesday that the late-morning gabfest would have a fourth co-host by the end of this year. "We have a person in mind," executive producer Bill Geddie said Tuesday afternoon after the program had wrapped with only one guest, Danny DeVito, and the requisite talk by Goldberg, creator/part-time co-host Barbara Walters and co-hosts Joy Behar and Elisabeth Hasselbeck. Geddie said the new co-host could be on the set by the time Hasselbeck takes maternity leave in November.

These articles also reveal more details about Whoopi's first day on the job and the fact that she received phone calls from both Rosie and Star Jones before her debut. Access Hollywood and Extra also feature footage from the set.

The question is, who will the new co-host be? Given all indications the smart money is on Sherri Shepherd (aka Star Jones-Lite). Kathy Griffin seems like a long shot now since her name hasn't been mentioned for some time. Time will tell I guess.