After an incredible six seasons as co-host, Ryan Seacrest has made the difficult decision to leave ‘Live with Kelly and Ryan.’ In a bittersweet statement delivered on Thursday morning’s East Coast broadcast, the beloved media celebrity shared his reasons for stepping down.

Seacrest expressed that he will be departing the show to focus on his commitments to American Idol and other exciting ventures. While originally joining the show as a temporary replacement for Michael Strahan in 2017, Seacrest’s love for co-hosting grew, leading him to extend his stay for three more remarkable years.

The journey hasn’t always been easy for Seacrest, commuting between his main residence in Los Angeles and the show’s recording location in New York, all while diligently hosting American Idol in LA. Despite the challenges, he reflects on his time with Kelly Ripa and the show fondly.

Seacrest shared, “Working with Kelly for the past six years has been an absolute dream job and one of the highlights of my career. She has been an incredible partner, friend, and confidante. Although we’ll always remain in each other’s lives, I will truly miss our mornings together.”

Kelly Ripa, with deep affection, responded, “You’ve become more than a buddy; you’re like family to us. I couldn’t be prouder of you and will be cheering you on every step of the way.”

As for Seacrest’s replacement, a familiar face will be taking over. Kelly Ripa’s talented husband, Mark Consuelos, will be stepping in. While Consuelos has previously co-hosted the show, he will now have a regular role by Ripa’s side.

Reflecting on the passing of the torch, Seacrest graciously said, “It’s been an incredible journey, and now, I’m excited to see Kelly’s ‘real’ husband, Mark, take over. The show will now be known as ‘Live with Kelly and Mark.’”

While we will undoubtedly miss Ryan Seacrest, we wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors! We eagerly await Mark’s permanent presence as a co-host on the show.