After spending nearly a decade telling his children about every woman he had sex with before meeting their mother, Ted from How I Met Your Mother (Josh Radnor) has finally met his future wife and the mother of his children. On the final episode of the eighth-season, shown on Monday night (May 13), the titular character was finally reveal.

Cristin Milioti is the actress who plays the mother, having never appeared in the show until last night. Today, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that Milioti is indeed the woman Ted has been looking for, with the show's bosses at CBS adding that the actress will feature prominently in the ninth and final season of the show. Milioti and Radnor shared no scene in the episode, with her identity only being revealed to the audience.

Cristin Milioti
Cristin Milioti is the mother we've all been waiting for

Milioti's introduction to the show could spell a change in how the show is presented in it's final series, set to air between 2013 and 2014. The show's co-creators Craig Thomas and Carter Bays have previously suggested that the series could alter the narrative structure used throughout the show's run.

Milioti may not be one of the most instantly recognisable faces on TV, but has appeared on certain shows over the years. Her Tony-nominated performance in the stage production of Once may make her familiar to theatre-goers, whilst her TV credits include a recurring role as Johnny Sack's daughter Catherine on The Sopranos. She also played a a role in the 30 Rock episode 'TGS Hates Women' as a thorn in the side of Tina Fey's Liz Lemon.

Watch the big reveal: