After four years of hosting Live with Kelly and Ryan, Ryan Seacrest announced his departure from the popular daytime show, with plans to move back to the West Coast for the American Idol live shows.
His permanent replacement is Mark Consuelos, the husband of co-host Kelly Ripa. The show will be rebranded as Live with Kelly and Mark.
“Working alongside Kelly over the past six years has been a dream job and one of the highlights of my career,” Seacrest said, according to People. “She has been an amazing partner, friend, and confidant, and although we will always be a part of each other’s lives, I will miss our mornings together.”
He also thanked the show’s staff and crew and viewers for the warm welcome he received during his time on the show. Leaving was a “tough, tough” decision, he noted.
“I also want to thank [executive producer] Michael Gelman and the entire staff and crew — we’ve made memories to last a lifetime, met some of the most incredible people and had the warmest welcome into the homes of so many viewers across America,” he added. “It’s been a memorable ride and now I’m excited to pass the baton to Kelly’s ‘real’ husband, Mark.”
Ripa shared her fondness for her friendship with Seacrest, calling him a dear friend and thanking him for his energy, passion, and love for entertainment.
“I can’t thank you enough on all of our behalf,” she said, according to People. “There is nobody else like you. There is nobody who can really do what you do. I know you in real life as well as TV life. I say this about very few people: what you see is what you get. This is not an act, this is a good man. I am so endlessly impressed by you.”
“I’m so grateful to have spent the last six years beside my dear friend of too many decades to count and will miss starting my days with Ryan,” she said. “Ryan’s energy, passion and love for entertainment is one-of-a-kind.”
She also expressed her excitement to welcome her husband, Mark, as the new co-host. Mark has been a fan-favorite guest host on the show for years and is no stranger to the Live family.
“Having him join the show is so special for us and we’re sure that viewers will feel the same,” Gelman said. “Goodbyes are never easy, but we look forward to welcoming Ryan back regularly with open arms.”
This marks the third co-host Ripa has worked with since joining the show in 2001. She began alongside Regis Philbin and later worked with Michael Strahan before Seacrest’s six-year tenure.
The announcement of Seacrest’s departure and Mark as the permanent replacement marks the end of an era and the start of a new one for Live with Kelly and Mark.
Fans can look forward to seeing the chemistry between Ripa and her “real” husband on the show and the exciting moments that come with live television.