Mark Consuelos assumes the role of Kelly Ripa’s co-host after Ryan Seacrest leaves “Live With Kelly and Ryan”

After six years as Kelly Ripa’s co-host on the ABC daytime talk show, Ryan Seacrest is leaving the show. Following Seacrest’s departure, Ripa will be joined as her co-host by her husband, Mark Consuelos, and the show will be renamed “Live With Kelly and Mark.”

On the episode of “Live” that aired on Thursday, Seacrest stated, “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.”

Since 2001, Ripa has hosted “Live” with Regis Philbin and Michael Strahan. She has also hosted on her own and with a rotating cast of guest hosts. In 2016, Seacrest joined her as a co-host. At first, he signed a three-year contract, but he ended up staying for six years.

“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,” Ripa said. “Ryan’s energy, passion and love for entertainment is one-of-a-kind.”

Seacrest and Ripa make their departure announcement.

Seacrest will leave “Live With Kelly and Ryan” this spring to prepare for ABC’s “American Idol” live shows in Los Angeles. He currently hosts ABC’s “Dick Clark’s” New Year’s Eve special.

“Goodbyes are never easy, but we look forward to welcoming Ryan back regularly with open arms,” “Live With Kelly and Ryan” executive producer Michael Gelman said. “As a fan-favorite guest host for years, Mark is no stranger to the ‘Live’ family. Having him join the show is so special for us and we’re sure that viewers will feel the same.”

At the moment, “Live With Kelly and Ryan” is the No. One daytime talk show in terms of total viewers and household ratings across network and syndicated programming. For 56 weeks, the daytime talk show “Live” has received the highest ratings among women between the ages of 25 and 54.