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

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

Seacrest’s possible return to “Idol” had sparked much speculation, even though it airs from Los Angeles and “Live” airs mornings from New York.

Seacrest will also continue his syndicated L.A. morning drive-time radio show and nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show, from his iHeartMedia studio in New York.

— Associated Press