Larry King has said his agnostic atheism and estranged wife's religion played a part in their split after 22 years last August.

The legendary TV and radio host revealed he and Shawn King – whose maiden name is Southwick - tried to get past their differing beliefs.

But a combination of the 60-year-old actress being Mormon and other factors – including their 26-year age difference and his devotion to broadcasting - made their relationship irreconcilable.

'The age difference eventually takes its toll,' he said in the new issue of People. 'Also my wife is a very religious Mormon, and I'm an agnostic atheist, so that causes little problems.

'We overcame a lot, but it just hit a point where we didn't get along.'

Larry King partially blamed his estranged wife's religion and his agnostic atheism for their split after 22 years last August. 'My wife is a very religious Mormon, and I'm an agnostic atheist, so that causes little problems,' he admitted in the new issue of People

He added: 'We overcame a lot, but it just hit a point where we didn't get along'. King, 86, said about Southwick, 60: 'The age difference eventually takes its toll'

The man whose show Larry King Live aired on CNN for 25 years form 1985, admitted his tendency to put his career before romantic relationships may have been another factor in the breakup. Pictured June 21, 2010

Southwick is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

She and her father went to college at Brigham Young University in Utah, which is owned by the church.

The pair almost divorced in 2010 but got back together. It followed a reported 2008 rehab stint for Southwick who allegedly had an addiction to painkillers. She's believed to avoid alcohol in line with her religion.

Her children with King are also thought to have been raised Mormon.

Gossip stories said the split resulted from Southwick trying to interfere with the inheritance of her two adult sons, Cannon, 19 and Chance, 20. King also has a son with his first wife and two children with his third wife.

King and Southwick also faced rumors of infidelity but have both denied it.

King, whose show Larry King Live aired on CNN for 25 years form 1985, admits his tendency to put his career before romantic relationships may have been another factor in the breakup.

'I never cheated on my wives but the sad thing is my career always came first,' he admits. 'I used to say if CNN called with an emergency or my wife called with an emergency, I'd call CNN first.

'I've really tried not to let [rumors] bother me. I have to read so much about myself. You spend 62 years on the air. Not everyone is going to like you. All I can do is be honest.'

But both have denied rumors of infidelity. King said: 'I never cheated on my wives but the sad thing is my career always came first'

Gossip stories said the split resulted from Southwick trying to interfere with his estate - potentially negatively impacting the inheritance of their two adult sons, Cannon, 19 and Chance, 20. Pictured August 21, 2018

King said after having surgery for an angina last April, he finally decided to do something about their differences. He's pictured with sons Cannon, 19 (right) and Chance, 20 (left)

King said after having surgery for an angina last April, he finally decided to do something about their differences.

'I thought about what I wanted the rest of my life to be,' King said. 'When you're 40 and there are moments of unhappiness in a marriage, you can overcome that. But it's hard at my age. There is nothing worse than arguing. And I wanted to be happy.'

The duo met in 1997 and Larry King Now airs via their ORA network – inspired by Southwick's middle name. After his eighth divorce, King has no hard feelings.

'I wish Shawn the best. We love each other. And I'll always care for her.'

However King says 'in my head, I'm not a marrying guy'. 'When I grew up if you fell in love, you got married. And I married the ones that I loved. But what I loved at 20 was not what I love at 30 or what I loved at 40.'

Southwick broke down in an exclusive interview with DailyMailTV last year, saying she was blindsided when he filed for divorce.

'I was crushed, I had no idea that this was coming, it hurt yeah. I was totally blindsided,' she admitted in an emotional interview back in September.

King has had numerous health issues, including a heart attack, prostate and lung cancer, and type two diabetes.

'He's going through a lot right now. His health issues, that can really shake you to the core to see him so vulnerable and he doesn't remember two solid weeks of time. It's life, it's real and it's not fun.'

She added: 'I don't think, again I'm not in Larry's head, I refuse to believe that he intended to humiliate me. It's strange, I can't quite wrap my head around it, but it is what it is... it hurts.

'Larry has a very strong personality, Larry does what Larry wants, that doesn't mean that I can't disagree with him because I have and I do and will continue for as long as we are on this earth.'