Kelly Ripa is speaking candidly about how long she plans to remain on Live with Kelly and Mark.
In an interview with Decider, Ripa opened up about the hosting role she has held for 25 years, as well as her future on the show. She reflected on the series’ longevity and hinted at how much longer viewers can expect to see her behind the desk.
“I always say this job and this place is so special, that I really do believe in this show as a franchise. It’s a franchise show,” she began.
“Before me, there was Regis [Philbin] and Kathie Lee [Gifford]. And before Kathie Lee, there was Regis and a myriad of other hosts.”
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Ripa continued, “I believe this show will continue on for as long as linear television exists. I believe that there are too many talented people out there that really deserve the opportunity to find their own audience and grow the audience the way they see fit. Because I don’t intend to work for the rest of my life. I really do not.”
“I think we’ll all make that decision when the time comes. I think there’s a way to sort of get new people on board and have them test co-hosts, and get the audience used to other people. I think it’s important. I love this show too much to see it sort of ever end with us,” Ripa concluded.
Ripa first auditioned for the role in 2001 after then-host Philbin invited her to test as a potential replacement for Gifford. During her episode, Los Angeles-based psychic Char Margolis made a statement that likely cemented Ripa’s future with the series, as reported by the Toronto Sun.
During the segment, Margolis shared messages about Ripa’s late grandmother and spoke about the matriarch’s continued presence over the family. The emotional moment deepened when Margolis added that the grandmother would also be watching over Ripa’s soon-to-arrive baby.
“It’s soon, it’s not far away,” the psychic said. “You’re not pregnant yet, are you?”
“Excuse me,” Philbin asked. “Are you expecting?”
Ripa started to laugh nervously before admitting, “I haven’t told my boss yet,” about her second pregnancy with daughter Lola Consuelos. At the time, she was working on the daytime soap opera All My Children and was already a mother to Michael with husband Mark Consuelos, and the couple would later welcome a son, Joaquin.
However long Kelly Ripa remains at the helm of Live, she says she’s committed to delivering the upbeat, feel-good programming viewers have embraced since the show first premiered in 1983.
The 2025 Daytime Emmy winner told Decider, “Our job when we come on the air, we are fully cognizant that the viewers at home have had five hours of news programming. So we try to bring them a lighter, less anxiety-inducing side of what the headlines have to offer.”
Live with Kelly and Mark airs weekday mornings in syndication. The series is filmed in New York City.