Ryan Seacrest Leaving ‘Live With Kelly and Ryan,’ as Mark Consuelos Joins Daytime Show | THR News - video Dailymotion

Seacrest is stepping down from the syndicated series after six seasons, with Kelly Ripa's husband taking his place.

Transcript

00:00I'm getting emotional. I promised Kelly I would not cry.

00:03Ryan Seacrest is leaving Live with Kelly and Ryan after co-hosting the show with Kelly Ripa for six seasons.

00:09And his replacement is already lined up.

00:11Seacrest made the announcement of his upcoming departure on Thursday morning's show.

00:15Last year we spoke and I made the decision to make this my last season as co-host with Kel here on Live with Kelly and Ryan.

00:25The host called the decision to leave tough and bittersweet.

00:29Ripa went on to praise Seacrest, saying he was a gem and one of her best friends.

00:45Seacrest shared that he would return occasionally to guest co-host.

00:49The pair also revealed that a replacement for Seacrest has already been picked out.

00:52Ripa prefaced the big reveal as being shocking, but also someone the show's staff knows and loves.

00:59The one I can think of that is capable of, you know, holding your torch the way you have held it.

01:07And that would be my husband, Mark Consuelos.

01:10The syndicated series will be rebranded as Live with Kelly and Mark.

01:14Over on Instagram, Consuelos wrote,

01:16Congrats on your next chapter, Ryan Seacrest. I love you like a brother. I know I have some big shoes to fill.

01:22He went on to call Ripa his ride-or-die and say,

01:24This is going to be amazing. I can't believe after all these years of listening to you talk for free, I found a way to get paid for it.

01:31Seacrest originally signed on to host the morning show for three years and ended up staying for six.

01:35He plans to return to the West Coast, where he will continue to host ABC's American Idol.

01:40He will also continue to host Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest.

01:44For more on this story, head to THR.com.

01:47For The Hollywood Reporter News, I'm Tiffany Taylor.