DeGeneres: 'I am getting married'

BURBANK, Calif., May 17 (UPI) -- Ellen DeGeneres is planning to marry actress Portia de Rossi following a recent California ruling, the TV talk show host says.

With California officials officially lifting the state's ban on same-sex marriage ceremonies this week, DeGeneres wasted no time in announcing her plans to marry the former "Ally McBeal" actress, the BBC reported Saturday.

"I am announcing I am getting married," DeGeneres said during a taping of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" this week.

"It is something, of course, that we have wanted to do and we wanted to be legal, and we are just very, very excited."

DeGeneres and de Rossi, who was in the studio audience when the TV host made the announcement, have been dating for nearly four years.

The BBC said the comedian, who officially announced her sexuality in 1997, still couldn't resist injecting a bit of humor into her marital announcement.

"Thank you. I'll tell you who the lucky guy is soon." she told the applauding "Ellen" audience.