Kelly Ripa Welcomes Ryan Seacrest As New Co-Host of 'Live' (Video)

Seacrest has accepted a full-time job co-hosting and executive producing the long-running daytime series that will be re-named to “Live With Kelly & Ryan.” The deal was announced on Monday.

“So excited to join this show!! @KellyRipa crushes every morning… one of my favorite people ever #livekellyryan,” Seacrest tweeted after walking out with Ripa to officially announce the news.

Ripa teased her big announcement the night before sharing a photograph on Instagram of her holding a mug that said, “Live with Kelly & ?” and then opened the show by calling Monday a “very good day.”

“Today, the next chapter of the 'Live' story is about to be written,” she said. “Today, my new co-host will officially be joining me on 'Live' and today is a very good day.”

Ripa then thanked all of her A-lister co-hosts who have appeared on the show over the past year such as Jimmy Kimmel, Anderson Cooper, Andy Cohen, Jussie Smollett, Neil Patrick Harris and Dwyane Wade.

“Part of what makes this show so special is through helping us out, they all became family and they are a part of the 'Live' family forever," Ripa said of the guest co-hosts.

Ripa and Seacrest have been close friends since 2005 when the pair began a four-year gig co-hosting the Walt Disney Christmas Parade together and have since developed a strong chemistry on and off the air.

“Ryan is a quintessential broadcaster and at the top of his game,” Ripa said. “I am thrilled to start my mornings with him every day, and we are so fortunate at 'Live' to have him join the family.”

“Ryan is a close friend and his star shines as brightly off camera as it does on. His tremendous success is only matched by his impeccable reputation. Plainly said, everyone loves him, and so will our daily viewers.”

The very excited Seacrest had some nice words to share about his new co-host as well.

“Not only is Kelly Ripa one of the most talented live hosts in broadcast TV; she's also become a very dear friend to me over the years. It's consistently been my privilege and pleasure to work alongside Kelly with all her incredible talents, charm and humor – whether hosting the Disney Christmas Day Parade special with her a decade ago or guest co-hosting alongside her on 'Live,' it's always just been easy and fun to share a set with her, and we have a blast.”

Ripa has a significant say in who would be selected as her permanent co-host in wake of ABC's mishandling of Strahan's departure. After Ripa publically shared her feelings about finding out that her co-host was leaving 'Live' for 'Good Morning America' only minutes before viewers, Ripa was promoted to executive producer in her latest deal.

Seacrest has lived in Los Angeles for the majority of his career overseeing a producing company and hosting a local and nationally syndicated daily radio show. Although Ryan Seacrest Productions and Ryan Seacrest Enterprises will stay in Los Angeles, the busy host will relocate to New York, where he will continue his radio work. He will also continue hosting “E!'s Live on the Red Carpet” specials for the Oscars, Grammys and Golden Globes, as well as ABC's “New Year's Rockin' Eve.”