Ryan Seacrest Cries Over Leaving ‘Live,’ As Mark Consuelos Is Named New Co-Host

Ryan Seacrest is stepping down as co-host of Live With Kelly and Ryan, and Kelly Ripa‘s husband Mark Consuelos will take over his role.

Seacrest spent six years co-hosting Live With Kelly and Ryan. On Thursday’s show, it was announced that he would leave the program he joined back in 2017.

“Kelly and I have some news here,” Seacrest said. “This is something that she and I have been talking about for a long time, and it was a tough, tough decision. Last year we spoke, and I made the decision to make this my last season as co-host with Kelly here on Live with Kelly and Ryan, which is bittersweet.”

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Ripa stated, “You are a gem, you are one of my best friends, and I said like the greatest part of this entire experience has been that you’ve gone from being a friend to a family member.

Seacrest proceeded to get a bit emotional as he spoke about how much the show means to him and waking up every morning and connecting with the audience, “I promised Kelly I wouldn’t cry.”

As they exchanged heartfelt messages to their audience, Ripa announced some even bigger news.

“The only person I can think of that is capable of you know holding your torch the way you have held it and that would be my husband Mark Consuelos,” stated Ripa, “in what me and Ryan and I are calling the nation’s weirdest social experiment.”

Seacrest also added, “Mark feel free to redesign the dressing room.”

Consuelos, a Riverdale star and a regular Live fill-in, will be permanently replacing Seacrest, thus rebranding the show Live With Kelly and Mark.

Seacrest also took to Instagram to write, “I’m going to miss my work wife and all the laughter we share.” He also stated that he was only supposed to be on the show for three years, but he enjoyed it so much that he stayed for another three.

He will leave the show to focus on American Idol season 21, his radio show and ABC’s annual New Year’s Eve telecast. He also has set goals to open up three more Ryan Seacrest Foundation Studios.