Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest.Photo: ABC Entertainment
Ryan Seacrestis reflecting on his “magical” era hostingLivealongsideKelly Ripa.
On Thursday, the officialLive with Kelly and RyanInstagram account shared theAmerican Idolhost’s speech at his farewell dinner as Seacrest tipped his hat to the morning show’s show staff, Ripa and her husbandMark Consuelos, who’s taking over co-hosting duties starting Monday.
“For me, it is no other place in our business like theLiveshow,” Seacrest said. “I’m grateful to have been a part for six years and I wanted us to get together and enjoy something I like a lot, which is great food.”
“And you know it was coming,” he continued, “I will miss the Halloween show.”
He then added, “You know, that’s actually a lie. I mean, the costumes, the wigs, the art of all of it.”
“Personally for me, and I think for Kelly the same, to walk out on that stage after we’ve turned around a show — and when I say ‘we’ I mean you guys have turned around a show overnight — it is a magical experience that I will remember forever.”
Seacrest then spoke about the Christmas show and saluted a few other faces who work both on and off camera before eventually moving on to Ripa and calling her the show’s “leader.”
“My brother Mark, congratulations,” he said, before giving Ripa, 52, a kiss and Consuelos, 52, a hug. “It’s wonderful to go through this process with somebody I love so much, who obviously knows her better than I know her. But congratulations, and I can’t wait to watch or tape it and sleep in — probably that!”
Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest.ABC/Jeff Neira
Consuelos will sit beside Ripa as co-host of the newly titledLive with Kelly and Markstarting next week, and it will be “a complete full-circle moment,” the duo told PEOPLE in this week’s cover story.
For the power duo, teaming up onLiveoffers a chance to hang out together after spending long stretches apart for work over the last decade. “During the pandemic whenRiverdalewas shut down for about six months, it was the first time we had been together uninterrupted for, like, five years,” Kelly said. “I prefer the togetherness. I really enjoy being around him — he’s great company, so funny, so smart, insightful, pragmatic and super level-headed. He doesn’t get rattled, and that’s very reassuring and comforting to be around.”
While he revealed his big news two months ago, Seacrest honored his bond with Ripa in a statement. “Working alongside Kelly over the past six years has been a dream job and one of the highlights of my career,” he shared. “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.”
For more of the exclusive cover interview withKelly Ripaand Mark Consuelos, pick up an issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.
Liveairs weekdays on ABC (check local listings).
source: people.com
