Michael Strahan says he’s “looking forward” to having Kelly Ripa back on “Live With Kelly and Michael” after a weeklong absence.
Ripa’s abrupt dissappearance from her own show came after the announcement that Strahan would soon be leaving “Live” to undertake a full-time gig on “Good Morning America,” which also airs on ABC.
Ripa was reportedly shocked at the way the news was announced just days before she was scheduled to take an anniversary vacation with her husband, so she took a break from her job early.
Strahan has been trying to reach Ripa to tell her he wanted her to come back, a source told People magazine.
“He never wanted any of this to happen,” the source said. “He got why she was mad but it was out of his control. He spent the last few days reaching out because he wanted her to come back.”
Strahan was prepared to keep being the host alongside a string of temporary co-hosts until his move to “GMA” but is “relieved that it all worked out,” added the source.
Ripa informed her staff in an email late last week that she would return to work on Tuesday, April 26.
