Ryan Seacrest plans to leave ABC鈥檚 鈥淟ive with Kelly and Ryan鈥� this spring, he announced on Thursday鈥檚 episode.

Seacrest has hosted the New York-set morning show with Kelly Ripa since 2017. Ripa鈥檚 husband, Mark Consuelos, will take over as her full-time co-host.

鈥淚t was a tough, tough decision,鈥� Seacrest said. 鈥淟ast year, we spoke and I made the decision to make this my last season as co-host with Kel here on 鈥楲ive with Kelly and Ryan,鈥� which is bittersweet.鈥�

The 48-year-old Seacrest didn鈥檛 announce his final day but says he鈥檒l return to Los Angeles once the latest season of 鈥淎merican Idol鈥� begins airing its live shows there. Season 21 of the ABC singing competition series, which Seacrest hosts, premieres next week, beginning with the audition episodes.

Seacrest joined 鈥淟ive鈥� as a permanent host alongside Ripa after Michael Strahan鈥檚 departure for 鈥淕ood Morning America.鈥� Ripa previously hosted the show with the late Regis Philbin.

鈥淭his has been the greatest ride for me,鈥� said Seacrest, who plans to fill in as a guest host after stepping down from his permanent role.

Seacrest also hosts the syndicated radio shows 鈥淥n Air with Ryan Seacrest鈥� and 鈥淎merican Top 40.鈥�

鈥淚 cheer you on endlessly,鈥� Ripa said Thursday. 鈥淚 know how much of a sacrifice it鈥檚 been. I know how exhausting it is going back and forth [to Los Angeles]. I fully understand your decision making, and like Ryan said, we have been talking about this for a long time.鈥�

Consuelos, who married Ripa in 1996, has frequently appeared on 鈥淟ive鈥� as a guest host. The couple met while starring on the soap opera 鈥淎ll My Children鈥� and have three kids together.

鈥淲e are so aware of the importance of continuity and consistency and the familial vibe that we all have here,鈥� Ripa said. 鈥淚t only makes sense 鈥� to bring in somebody that we know and love and who鈥檚 really always been here.鈥�

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