Seacrest to return as host of ‘Idol’

Associaed Press

NEW YORK

Ryan Seacrest will be back hosting “American Idol” when it returns for its first season on ABC. Kelly Ripa made the announcement on Thursday’s “Live with Kelly and Ryan,” which she has co-hosted with Seacrest since he joined her in May.

“I am happy to confirm ... that Ryan Seacrest is returning as the host of ‘American Idol,” ’ said Ripa as the studio audience whooped.

Seacrest said he was excited to be doing it again.

“I don’t know if you’ve ever been in a 15-year relationship and then, for a reason that you really don’t know, you break up,” he said. “I thought, ‘Gosh, it would be great to get back together at some point.” ’

Seacrest had a grand history with “Idol” during its smash-hit run on Fox from 2002 through 2016. Reclaiming that job now gives him an additional role in the Disney family, which owns ABC and produces the syndicated “Live.”

His potential return to “Idol” had sparked much speculation since ABC announced in May that it would revive the talent competition. The program airs from Los Angeles and “Live” airs weekday mornings from New York. But the 42-year-old Seacrest is no stranger to a packed work schedule and cross-country flights.

Seacrest will also continue his syndicated Los Angeles radio show, as well as a nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show. He also hosts and executive produces ABC’s annual “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest,” and is a busy producer of series in which he doesn’t appear, including “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” and its many spin-offs.

The search for the first ABC-aired “Idol” begins next month. The premiere date has yet to be revealed.