Is Kelly Ripa Ever Returning To ‘Live’?

Live with Kelly and Mark host Kelly Ripa has been absent a lot, prompting fans to ask: is Kelly ever returning to the show?

A joke about winning the lottery turned into an unexplained absence. Then another absence, and another. Fans are starting to wonder if the popular talk show host has finally wrapped up her time with Live and is ready to move on. Here’s what we know about her plans and why she’s been absent.

Kelly’s Ongoing Absences Prompt Concern, Jubilation

Kelly Ripa has been missing from the studio a lot over the past few weeks. Depending on whether you’re a fan or a critic, you might be worried, or you might be celebrating. There has been plenty of both sides of the coin online in recent days as fans speculate as to the reason for Kelly’s extended absences.

It all started last week with a joke. Kelly told fans last Monday that she was leaving and would never be coming back. Her reason was that she planned to win the $1 billion Powerball. The winning ticket was pulled last Wednesday. And Kelly was immediately absent from the show on Thursday and Friday. Fans thought that perhaps the talk show host had won the lottery, and left for the South of France as she promised to do. But unfortunately for Kelly, she was back in the studio on Monday and had no major lottery winnings in hand.

On Monday, Kelly told fans that she and her husband and co-host Mark Consuelos had been in the studio since Sunday, filming an opener for next season. It seemed like things were back to normal until Kelly disappeared again.

Is Kelly Ripa Ever Returning to Live?

The beloved talk show host Kelly Ripa has been out most of this week. Luckily for fans, ABC was able to bring out the big guns to replace her. Legendary anchor and talk show host Anderson Cooper, who happens to be a family friend of Kelly and Mark, took her seat at the desk temporarily. And on Friday, Deja Vu filled in for Kelly. But neither Anderson, Deja, nor Mark has been forthcoming about why Kelly has been missing or when she will return for good.

Fans online took to forums to send messages of concern and support. On one of Kelly’s Instagram posts promoting her other show The Generation Gap, one fan wrote, “Miss you on Live! Come Back! Mark is doing a great Job.” Another asked, “Are you ever coming back?” And one fan added, “Why weren’t you on Live it wasn’t the same!”

But for now, fans will have to continue to wait and wonder. Kelly, Mark, Anderson, and the entire production crew have been silent about Kelly’s absences. It’s not clear when, or even if, she will return to the studio for good. But since she just filmed that opener for the next season with Mark, chances are good that she will return. Eventually.

Do you think Kelly Ripa is getting ready to leave the show? Do you want her to be replaced by someone like Anderson Cooper? Sound off in the comments. And catch Live with Kelly and Mark on weekday mornings on ABC at 9 AM EST.