Mark Consuelos faces host switch-up as Kelly Ripa makes unexpected return to LIVE!

Kelly Ripa returned to her rightful place alongside her husband, Mark Consuelos, during the August 10 episode of Live! with Kelly and Mark. However, all was not as it seemed. 

The episode was actually pre-recorded before Kelly took her break from the show. The episode offered plenty of entertainment, including fan-favorite segments like “Stump Mark” and “Travel Trivia,” along with an interview with reality star Teresa Giudice, a seasonal cooking demonstration, and the “The Inbox” segment.

Despite being pre-recorded, the episode marked the first time Kelly had been seen on the screen following her two-week absence from Live! due to recovering from gum graft surgery. Stars such as Kevin Jonas, Mila Kunis, Pamela Adlon, and Scott Foley filled in for Kelly during her first week off. The following week featured a series of guest hosts, including Sarah Chalke, Jenna Dewan, Michelle Buteau, Carrie Coon, and Déjà Vu. 

During the July 27 episode of the show, Mark revealed that his wife would be absent from Live! for a brief period. “Kelly had a little bit — well, it’s not a little — she had a gum graft surgery,” he shared.

The operation helps reduce teeth sensitivity as well as gum recession by surgically removing healthy gum tissue and placing it on exposed tooth roots. Mark explained: “Her dentist said five years ago, ‘You can do it in about five years,’ and she joked, ‘I didn’t think I’d still be on the air in five years!'”

© Getty Images

He shared that Kelly is “doing well” and “doing great,” and she needs to continue following doctor’s orders when it comes to her recovery. Kelly is set to return to the show on September 8.

Live! with Kelly and Mark is currently on its annual summer hiatus, with the show airing pre-recorded episodes through Labor Day. Viewers can expect a mix of newly filmed conversations between the hosts, segments recorded before the break, and past celebrity interviews.

© Getty Images

Mark – who shares kids Michael, Lola, and Joaquin, with his wife – joined Live! officially in 2023 following Ryan’s departure. Ryan left the show due to the demands of traveling back and forth between his home in Los Angeles and the studio in New York, as well as his desire to focus on other projects.

© Getty Images

“It’s wonderful to have the LIVE family grow even more with a real married couple as part of the everyday show,” longtime producer Michael Gelman told HELLO! “They have the same relationship on-and-off the air, and that’s part of the magic, so you see their interaction every day, just like a live married couple.”