Andrea Mitchell anchored her final edition of MSNBC’s long-running Andrea Mitchell Reports, with staffers and colleagues past and present entering the studio to give her an ovation as she wrapped up the show.

The celebration of Andrea Mitchell‘s on-air career continued after she signed off of her final Andrea Mitchell Reports episode on Friday (February 7). The episode concluded with a surprise drop-in and standing ovation from some fellow NBC and MSNBC folks,

Mitchell, 78, previously revealed that she would return to field reporting after the inauguration, though PEOPLE can now confirm her final day at the desk

Andrea Mitchell will bring the curtain down on her career as an MSNBC anchor on Friday. The veteran journalist has been the face of the network’s noontime hour since 2008 as the host of Andrea Mitchell Reports.

After almost two decades as the host of MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell Reports, Andrea Mitchell signed off for the very last time on Friday (February 7) with an emotional farewell to audiences.

Andrea Mitchell will step down as full-time anchor on MSNBC on Friday — ending a 17-year stint as host of “Andrea Mitchell Reports” on the Comcast-owned cable news outfit. Mitchell announced last fall that she would step down from her daily MSNBC show after the presidential inauguration but will continue her work as a correspondent for NBC News.

Andrea Mitchell has exited her MSNBC show, Andrea Mitchell Reports, after 17 years. She will remain as the network's Chief Washington Correspondent and Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent

"After 16 years of being in the anchor chair every day, I want time to do more of what I love the most." She added, "Still with NBC News and at MSNBC. Still as Chief Washington and Foreign Affairs Correspondent.

MSNBC Andrea Mitchell has left her show on the network after 17 years. We'll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story. Please check back regularly for updates on this developing story HERE .