Kelly Ripa Teases Her Retirement Plans for Live With Mark Consuelos
Kelly Ripa is looking toward the future—does that mean more seasons of Live With Kelly and Mark?
“This job and this place are incredibly special to me, and I truly believe in this show as a franchise,” Ripa, 55, told Decider regarding the future of her talk show on Thursday, February 19. “It’s a franchise show. Before my time, there were Regis [Philbin] and Kathie Lee [Gifford]. And prior to Kathie Lee, there were Regis and various other hosts.”
The former All My Children star elaborated, “I genuinely believe this show will keep going for as long as linear television remains. There are so many talented individuals out there who truly deserve the chance to connect with their own audience and develop it as they wish. I have no plans to work for the entirety of my life—I truly do not.”
On the subject of when she might step away from the series, Ripa reiterated, “I don’t plan on working forever, but I believe we’ll all make that decision when the time is right.”
Ripa suggested she would ensure that whoever eventually steps in to fill her and husband Mark Consuelos‘ roles would be the right match.
“There’s a way to onboard new talent, allowing them to test as cohosts to help the audience acclimate to other individuals,” she observed. “I think that’s crucial. I care too much about this show to see it end with just us.”
Ripa expressed similar sentiments during a discussion with The Purist in August 2023, revealing, “I am very firm in my commitments, and when you have me, you have me for life. That said, I don’t plan on staying in this role indefinitely. I often consider retirement, but for now, I’m very happy, especially working alongside Mark.”
Ripa officially became a cohost on Live in 2001, joining Philbin after Gifford departed from the talk show. Philbin, who passed away in July 2020 at age 88, left the program in 2011. Ryan Seacrest later joined Live in 2017.
After six years teaming up with Ripa, Seacrest, 51, announced he would be leaving the show in 2023. Consuelos, 54, officially became her cohost that same year, with the series continuing to attract record-breaking viewership since.
While fans enjoy the playful banter between Ripa and Consuelos on Live each morning, she confessed that there is one thing about her husband that can be quite irritating.
“He often doesn’t listen to me, and he zones out while we’re live on the air,” Ripa shared during a July 2025 appearance on the “Not Skinny But Not Fat” podcast. “I can handle him tuning me out in life, but when you’re being paid—quite handsomely, I might add—to listen to me, you really need to pay attention.”
She continued, “Literally, I observe him spacing out. And I go, ‘Hey, don’t do that.’”
