Live! With Kelly & Ryan is going through some major shakeups!
It’s been announced that Ryan Seacrest is leaving the show after co-hosting with Kelly Ripa for six years.
The announcement was made at the top of the morning show on Thursday (Feb 16). His replacement has also already been revealed.
Mark Consuelos, who is Kelly’s real-life husband, will be taking on co-hosting duties with her on the ABC show full-time.
With his departure from the show, Ryan will still continue to be part of the ABC family as he is still the host of both American Idol and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rocki’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.
Ryan’s exit from Live! will happened in the Spring of this year.
In a statement, Ryan said:
“Working alongside Kelly over the past six years has been a dream job and one of the highlights of my career. 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. I also want to thank 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.
It’s been a memorable ride and now I’m excited to pass the baton to Kelly’s ‘real’ husband, Mark.”
He shed a bit more light on his departure, saying:
“I’ll be transitioning out of Live this Spring to shoot the 21st season of American Idol in LA, continue my radio show on KIIS-FM and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin Eve, and focus my summer on opening three more Ryan Seacrest Foundation Studios in pediatric hospitals across the country.
When I signed on to host Live in 2017 it was meant to be for 3 years, but I loved the job and working with Kelly so much that I extended my time and last year I made the decision to stay on for one more final season.”
Kelly likewise released a statement on Ryan’s impending departure from the show:
“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. Ryan’s energy, passion, and love for entertainment is one of a kind.”
