'Touched by an Angel' ending after nine years

"Touched by an Angel" will ascend to heaven as it wraps up its nine-year run on CBS, the drama's executive producer said Monday.

"We will give a glimpse of heaven" in the May finale of the drama starring Roma Downey as a helpful angel on Earth, Martha Williamson said. Della Reese, John Dye and Valerie Bertinelli co-star.

Williamson, who said she is developing a new series for CBS, struck a philosophical tone about the series' end, saying it had "a remarkable run."

"Who wouldn't like to see their show go on ... but I think the time is right," she said, adding, "God's timing is perfect."

She's focused on creating an "unforgettable" finale that will include some depiction of heaven, which she said has yet to be portrayed on the show.

Williamson marveled at the series' longevity given that she was rushed in to doctor an existing series pilot before the September 1994 premiere.

The show's impact has been vast, she said. Religion has been treated more respectfully on TV and thousands of viewers have written in to say "'Your show changed my life,'" Williamson said.

"Television shows will come and go, but you can never cancel the impact of 'Touched by an Angel,'" she said.