'Strahan and Sara' to welcome Keke Palmer as third host: report

Strahan and Sara and Keke!

ABC's daytime talk show "Strahan and Sara," which is co-hosted by "Good Morning America" personalities Michael Strahan and Sara Haines, is reportedly "close to finalizing a deal" to signing with actress Keke Palmer on making her a full-time third host.

SEE ALSO: Sara Haines welcomes baby No. 3 -- find out the adorable name she chose!

Page Six reports that ABC execs are fond of Palmer, who has frequently filled in as a guest co-host on the show, including during Haines' recent maternity leave, which she returned from just last week.

"Keke has been so much fun filling in, so they decided to make her an offer," an insider claims. "The audience knows her and she's got great chemistry with both [hosts]."

See photos of Keke Palmer:

The source added that execs hope that Palmer, 26, who is "fun, spontaneous and has great energy," will attract younger viewers and help turn the show's struggling ratings around. "Strahan and Sara" was originally called "GMA Day" when it premiered in the old time slot of "The Chew" last year, but ABC changed its name in January. Page Six notes that "it's unclear whether the network would change the name of the show again to include Palmer's name."

Keke Palmer shot to fame as the star of "Akeelah and the Bee" in 2006 and has since appeared in shows like "Scream Queens," "Star," "True Jackson, VP" and "Scream: The TV Series." She'll star alongside Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu in the upcoming stripper movie, "Hustlers," out this fall.

See photos of Sara Haines and her husband together: