"Grateful" Ryan Seacrest Admits He's Looking Forward to Live With Kelly and Ryan Departure

Ryan Seacrest just wants to sleep in.

With less than three weeks before his final episode of Live With Kelly and Ryan on April 14, the TV presenter revealed he is officially ready to say goodbye to co-host Kelly Ripa.

"I'm looking forward to it," he admitted to George Stephanopoulos on Good Morning America March 28, of his impending departure. "I will miss being with Kelly every morning and, of course, having a cup of coffee with the audience. It's such a fun show. Grateful for the six years I was able to do it here in New York."

Although, it seems as though Kelly isn't quite as ready to embrace the change—because she's missing the March 29 episode. In her place, George's wife Ali Wentworth will spend the morning with the American Idol host.

Ryan's latest comments on his exit are reminiscent of what he expressed earlier this month.

"I'll miss being next to Kelly every single day," Ryan exclusively told E! News' Carolina Bermudez on March 9. "We're extremely close, we're very good friends, we'll remain good friends. But there's that hour of communicating with somebody. You become super excited about doing it. You laugh, and then, of course, you can't remember what you said to each other. So, I'll miss that part."

However, he did indicate his time at Live isn't done for good, noting that show producer Michael Gelman "tells me he's gonna have me back to fill in every now and then."

The 48-year-old announced his upcoming departure from Live after six seasons during the morning show's Feb. 16 episode. And the show isn't looking far for his replacement, as Kelly's husband Mark Consuelos will soon step in as co-host.

"Working alongside Kelly over the past six years has been a dream job and one of the highlights of my career," Ryan said in a statement. "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."

He added, "It's been a memorable ride and now I'm excited to pass the baton to Kelly's 'real' husband, Mark."

Don't miss Ryan Seacrest's last episode of Live With Kelly and Ryan, April 14 on ABC.

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