Behar hints she may marry longtime beau

NEW YORK, March 18 (UPI) -- Joy Behar told Barbara Walters, her fellow panelist on the U.S. chat show "The View," that she is considering marrying her longtime beau Steve Janowitz.

Behar, 66, has maintained for years that she has no intention of tying the knot with Janowitz after a previous marriage to someone else ended in divorce.

"I have been with a guy for 26 1/2 years," People.com quoted Behar as saying on Walters' Sirius XM Radio show Tuesday, during which Behar admitted she and Janowitz have talked about getting married.

"Somebody that I know lost her partner. They were gay women. And the partner was in the hospital and she had to pretend that she was her sister in order to really deal with stuff, " Behar explained. "I don't want that to happen to us … and I also just feel that I want to."

People.com said Walters told Behar, "I could give you the wedding," to which a surprised Behar replied, "Really?"

"How many people do you want?" Walters asked.

"I don't know. How many can you afford?" Behar joked. Getting a little more serious, she added, "What I would like to do on 'The View' is announce it after I do it, if you don't mind."