Ryan Seacrest has revealed he's leaving "Live with Kelly and Ryan" this spring, saying he never expected to stay so long and thanking his co-host Kelly Ripa, who he jokingly called his "work wife."

What You Need To Know

  • Ryan Seacrest has revealed he's leaving "Live with Kelly and Ryan" this spring, ending a six-year run alongside host Kelly Ripa

  • Seacrest's replacement will be Ripa's real-life husband, Mark Consuelos; The show will be rebranded as "Live with Kelly and Mark"

  • Seacrest said he'll stay busy shooting the new season of "American Idol," his radio show on KIIS-FM and hosting "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve"

  • "Live with Kelly and Ryan" on ABC is the No. 1 daytime talk show per household and in total viewership; Ripa has hosted "Live" since 2001, first with Regis Philbin and later with Michael Strahan

Seacrest ends a six-year run alongside Ripa. His replacement will be Ripa's real-life husband, Mark Consuelos, a frequent guest-host on the program. The show will be rebranded as "Live with Kelly and Mark."

"Working alongside Kelly over the past six years has been a dream job and one of the highlights of my career," Seacrest said on Thursday's edition of the long-running talk show. "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," he continued. "It’s been a memorable ride and now I’m excited to pass the baton to Kelly’s ‘real’ husband, Mark"

"I'm going to miss my work wife and all the laughter we share," Seacrest wrote on Instagram. "When I signed on to host 'Live' in 2017 it was meant to be for three years, but I loved the job and working with Kelly so much that I extended my time and last year I made the decision to stay on for one more final season."

"You are a gem, you are one of my best friends and I said the greatest part of this experience is that you've gone from being a friend to a family member," Ripa said Thursday. "You are family to us."

Seacrest said he'll stay busy shooting the new season of "American Idol," his radio show on KIIS-FM and hosting "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve."

"Goodbyes are never easy, but we look forward to welcoming Ryan back regularly with open arms. 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," Michael Gelman, executive producer of "Live with Kelly and Ryan," said in a statement.

"Live with Kelly and Ryan" on ABC is the No. 1 daytime talk show per household and in total viewership. Ripa has hosted "Live" since 2001, first with Regis Philbin and later with Michael Strahan.

"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," said Ripa in a statement. "Ryan's energy, passion and love for entertainment is one-of-a-kind."