Ricki Weighs in Oprah's Departure

Oprah Winfrey's showbiz pal Ricki Lake says she's not too worried about the mega star's decision to quit her TV show in the US.

"I'll miss her terribly but I have a feeling she's not going anywhere... I think she's just going to switch over to cable," the actress and television personality revealed at the CNN Heroes tribute in Hollywood.

Oprah has announced she will end her show in 2011 after 25 years on the air.

"I think it's devastating, for me as a viewer and a fan to think 'What am I going to do at 4 o'clock everyday if she's not there?'," Ricki told reporters.

"She was incredibly generous to me over the years. Before I started on the air she gave me a guided tour of her studio, I got to see her work, I went to a taping, I saw her offices, I met her staff. She's been incredibly kind to me. I was a guest on her show in 1988."

The 55-year-old is widely expected to start up a new talk show on OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, a much-delayed 50-50 joint venture with Discovery Communications Inc that is expected to debut in January 2011.

The Press Association, 2009.