The Latest: Ex-White House press secretary subs for O'Reilly

NEW YORK (AP) - The Latest on Fox News Channel's embattled host, Bill O'Reilly (all times local):

8:10 p.m.

Former White House Press Secretary Dana Perino subbed for Bill O'Reilly on Fox News Channel Wednesday as cable television's embattled host begins a vacation.

Fox has said there will be a rotating crew of substitute hosts for O'Reilly, who is not scheduled to be back on the air until April 24. Eric Bolling and Laura Ingraham are among the Fox personalities who have guest-hosted "The O'Reilly Factor" in the past.

O'Reilly's vacation comes at a time dozens of advertisers have pulled away from his show. A report in The New York Times earlier this month said that some $13 million has been paid to a total of five women to settle harassment complaints against O'Reilly, who denies any wrongdoing.

O'Reilly said his vacation has been scheduled for months. But it's the longest vacation he's taken in March or April for at least 10 years.

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5:39 p.m.

Embattled Fox News Channel host Bill O'Reilly hasn't taken this much time off consecutively in March or April for at least 10 years.

O'Reilly says he's off "The O'Reilly Factor" until April 24. Cable television's most popular host has seen an advertiser exodus following reports of settlements reached with five women to keep quiet about harassment accusations.

His announcement led to immediate speculation that he wouldn't return. O'Reilly says he usually vacations in the spring, and that this year's trip had been planned for months. An examination of transcripts shows that he does take breaks this time of year but never this long. Most years, his spring trips amount to long weekends.

Fox would not discuss whether network executives had anything to do with the duration of the trip.