Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos have cemented themselves as daytime television royalty thanks to their unwavering partnership on Live with Kelly and Mark and their rocksteady marriage.
For the last three years, the husband-and-wife duo, both 55, have built a reputation for being one of the most loved-up couples in the business.
The pair, who celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary at the beginning of the month, have never shied away from showcasing their affection for each other and have often caused a stir with their x-rated confessions.
And it’s because of their undeniable bond that their viewers have laughed and cried alongside them since they officially became co-hosts of their titular ABC program in 2023.
But what are they really like when the cameras stop rolling?
The Daily Mail attended a taping of their popular series filmed at the network’s studios in Hudson Square, New York City, on Monday.
From underhand remarks to a cheeky wardrobe malfunction, we uncovered what really happens when Ripa and Consuelos are not under the watchful eye of the lens.
The experience began with a lengthy wait after the audience, who had scored free tickets through platform 1iota.com, spent an hour queuing up around the block.
But die-hard fans seemed unperturbed, with the legion of viewers eventually funneled through security – complete with a sniffer dog – and seated in the two-tiered studio.
The Daily Mail attended a taping of popular morning show Live with Kelly and Mark
The popular ABC show films at the network’s studios in Hudson Square, New York City
The set, which exposed all the inner workings of the show, from floodlights to cameras, was much larger than expected and packed with crew members.
It wasn’t long until Ripa and Consuelos walked out on stage to enthusiastic applause – reciprocating the affection with warm smiles and open arms.
They looked picture-perfect and well-rehearsed after carrying out the same routine for two tapings every day Monday through Wednesday.
Ripa looked more dominant and appeared to have more fun interacting with the audience, but Consuelos was just as at home under the bright studio lights.
Together, they made it clear this is truly their domain where they call the shots.
Once the clapping subsided from the crowd, it was go-time.
The taping got underway with a surprising dose of on-camera fakery, which involved a plate of waffles that Consuelos had presented to his wife.
Ripa immediately appeared delighted over the mid-morning treat.
The experience began with a lengthy wait after the audience spent an hour queuing
Picture perfect couple Kelly and Mark share an undeniable bond
‘God this is good,’ Ripa said as she tucked into the goods live on air, even apologizing to the audience for eating in front of them.
Addressing the program’s executive producer, Michael Gelman, she then added: ‘I don’t want to hear about how the waffles are dragging the show down.
‘You put them in front of us! They are really good.’
But all was not as it seemed.
The second filming stopped for an ad break, Ripa got candid and let the facade drop.
The mom-of-three bluntly admitted she had been faking her enthusiasm, explaining: ‘Those were the worst waffles I’ve ever had.’
She left the audience in fits of laughter after hammering home the on-screen offering had been ‘so dry’ and ‘stale’ – but it was just the first of several candid confessions.
Among them, Ripa let it be known that she was being tormented by her outfit.
The TV star, who previously stunned fans with her enviable physique, was dressed in a white figure-hugging maxi skirt, a black and white polka dot blouse and a pair of sleek black heels.
But she was far from comfortable – and had no issue in saying so.
‘My skirt is making my underwear come down,’ she said, addressing the crowd seated in the balcony.
Once inside, guests are greeted with posters promoting ABC daytime shows
Fans queued in rows before being ushered into the studio audience
She then quipped that she wouldn’t be taking any promotional photos due to the wardrobe malfunction.
Toward the end of the filming, Ripa shared insight into her three decades of marriage by admitting that she had been losing sleep at night.
She claimed that Consuelos – with whom she shares three children Michael, 28, Lola, 24, and Joaquin, 23 – had forced her to stay up late because he ‘had’ to watch the latest episode of Euphoria.
Voicing her complaint to one of the show’s producers, but in earshot of the audience, she complained that she has not been getting enough sleep.
She then name-dropped that she had recently compared the sleep data from her Oura ring – a piece of jewelry that provides round-the-clock insights into sleep, fitness and stress for wellness – with talk show host Jimmy Kimmel.
Ripa shared that she had been getting way less than the recommended seven hours and seemed grouchy because of it.
In March, sources told the Daily Mail that Ripa and Consuelos are ‘lovey dovey’ on the set of Live with Kelly and Mark and ‘always touching one another.’
But on this day of filming, the pair – who met on the set of All My Children in 1995 – kept their flirtations dialed down to zero, and interactions with one another during the ad breaks were fleeting and muted.
The pair, who celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary at the beginning of the month, have never shied away from showcasing their affection for each other
Fans hoping for a glimpse of their steamy passion from kisses to hand holding would have been left bitterly disappointed.
Instead, the pair kept things strictly professional, with Ripa only once brushing her hand on her husband’s shoulder.
By the end of the taping, the energy from the audience had noticeably shifted, as if disappointed with a lack of pizazz – not helped by a somewhat mundane two-part DIY segment.
The episode concluded with Ripa and Consuelos filming promotional introductions and other various clips.
Executive producer Gelman jumped on the microphone to thank the hosts – and the audience – for their efforts.
The once-enthusiastic audience then filed out of the studio and trudged toward the exit.
One woman, who had spent much of the taping talking through each segment, vowed she would not return to sit in the audience for Live with Kelly and Mark.
Despite having described herself as a ‘fan’ of the couple at the beginning of the episode and claiming she had already been to two other tapings, she told the Daily Mail she was underwhelmed by this episode.
Perhaps the magic of Ripa and Consuelos is best absorbed through TV screens.
