Oprah Winfrey not rushing half-sister relationship

Oprah Winfrey is taking things "slow" with her half-sister.

The 56-year-old talk show host recently discovered she had a secret sibling, Patricia, and while she is thrilled to have a new addition to her family, Oprah knows they can't rush their relationship.

Speaking on 'The Gayle King Show', Oprah said: "We're taking it slow. I think it's about building a relationship one conversation - one experience - at a time."

Oprah - who shares the same birth mother as 47-year-old Patricia, who was given up for adoption shortly after her birth because mum Vernita Lee couldn't afford to raise her - says the pair have bonded over some issues and are enjoying each other's company.

She said: "I think we have the common interest of our mother. Everybody who's dealing with an ailing parent understands that process of getting care for them. And we're speaking regularly about that.

"She coming into the family at this time has been a great peace offering, a great symbol of peace-making in this family. I would say I see her as a gift."

Patricia discovered Oprah was her sister after she saw Vernita discussing her three other children on a TV interview in 2007 and began to work out her place in family history after her son Andre went online and found the birthdates of his mother's siblings.

Patricia said: "We realised that Oprah could be my sister."

The single mother said she kept her connection to Oprah a secret because she didn't want to cause a media circus.

She added: "I did not want her hurt."