Ryan Seacrest plans to leave ABC㽶Ƶֱs 㽶ƵֱLive with Kelly and Ryan㽶Ƶֱ this spring, he announced on Thursday㽶Ƶֱs episode.
Seacrest has hosted the New York-set morning show with Kelly Ripa since 2017. Ripa㽶Ƶֱs husband, Mark Consuelos, will take over as her full-time co-host.
㽶ƵֱIt was a tough, tough decision,㽶Ƶֱ Seacrest said. 㽶ƵֱLast year, we spoke and I made the decision to make this my last season as co-host with Kel here on 㽶ƵֱLive with Kelly and Ryan,㽶Ƶֱ which is bittersweet.㽶Ƶֱ
The 48-year-old Seacrest didn㽶Ƶֱt announce his final day but says he㽶Ƶֱll return to Los Angeles once the latest season of 㽶ƵֱAmerican Idol㽶Ƶֱ begins airing its live shows there. Season 21 of the ABC singing competition series, which Seacrest hosts, premieres next week, beginning with the audition episodes.
Seacrest joined 㽶ƵֱLive㽶Ƶֱ as a permanent host alongside Ripa after Michael Strahan㽶Ƶֱs departure for 㽶ƵֱGood Morning America.㽶Ƶֱ Ripa previously hosted the show with the late Regis Philbin.
㽶ƵֱThis has been the greatest ride for me,㽶Ƶֱ said Seacrest, who plans to fill in as a guest host after stepping down from his permanent role.
Seacrest also hosts the syndicated radio shows 㽶ƵֱOn Air with Ryan Seacrest㽶Ƶֱ and 㽶ƵֱAmerican Top 40.㽶Ƶֱ
㽶ƵֱI cheer you on endlessly,㽶Ƶֱ Ripa said Thursday. 㽶ƵֱI know how much of a sacrifice it㽶Ƶֱs been. I know how exhausting it is going back and forth [to Los Angeles]. I fully understand your decision making, and like Ryan said, we have been talking about this for a long time.㽶Ƶֱ
Consuelos, who married Ripa in 1996, has frequently appeared on 㽶ƵֱLive㽶Ƶֱ as a guest host. The couple met while starring on the soap opera 㽶ƵֱAll My Children㽶Ƶֱ and have three kids together.
㽶ƵֱWe are so aware of the importance of continuity and consistency and the familial vibe that we all have here,㽶Ƶֱ Ripa said. 㽶ƵֱIt only makes sense 㽶Ƶֱ to bring in somebody that we know and love and who㽶Ƶֱs really always been here.㽶Ƶֱ
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