Jimmy Kimmel will join Kelly Ripa on May 16 as her first guest co-host on Live! after Michael Strahan’s exit from the show on May 13.
The announcement follows weeks of behind-the-scenes drama at ABC. Strahan was initially scheduled to leave Live! for a co-hosting spot on Good Morning America in September. But Ripa was reportedly told of Strahan’s move just 20 minutes before ABC made the decision public. She took a brief leave from the show after hearing the news.
The network later issued a public apology to Ripa, and she made an emotional return to the show during which she talked about the need for respect in the workplace.
MORE: What Kelly Ripa’s Situation Reveals About TV and Women Stars
ABC has since announced that Strahan will leave in May, not September. A series of guest co-hosts will join Ripa while she and the producers search for a replacement. The Jimmy Kimmel Live star is first up.
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Write to Eliana Dockterman at eliana.dockterman@time.com