Before her first Live programme, Kelly Ripa recalls getting a jab from Regis Philbin, saying, “I felt horrible.”

In a new cover story, the TV host discusses her troubled friendship with her former Live With Regis and Kelly co-star.

 

Kelly Ripa is remembering her troubled friendship with her former co-host Regis Philbin.

 

In her book Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories, the actress and television personality recalls her early appearances on Live With Regis and Kelly. The passages regarding Philbin, in Ripa’s words, were “the hardest chapter to write.”

 

There were “good and awful days” between 2001 and 2011, when she co-hosted the well-known talk show alongside Philbin, Ripa admits to PEOPLE in a cover story released on Monday. “I don’t want anyone to think I’m disrespecting them or trashing them. But I also want people to understand that it wasn’t an easy task.”

 

It took years for Ripa to gain a position there and goods that are frequently handed to the men she worked with. “Including a room for my computer and an office.”

 

Ripa’s agent approached her with an offer to co-host after Kathie Lee Gifford, Philbin’s prior co-host, left the show. She had already hosted the ABC programme as a guest co-host three times at that point, and she had constantly been told that they were not seeking for a permanent replacement. They wanted you to know who your boss is, adds Ripa, alluding to the late Philbin, who was mentioned in the warning that came with the offer. It felt bad since it was so foreboding.

 

In her recollection of a conversation with Philbin, Ripa mentions that the show did not want her to bring “an entourage.” She relates, “I had my hair and cosmetics done. It wasn’t unusual for guests on a television show to arrive with it.” Philbin welcomed her and executive producer Michael Gelman before she entered the stage, saying, “Uh-oh, Gelman, it’s got an entourage.”

 

I felt awful, Ripa admits. “Although he was presumably attempting to be hilarious, it came off as a pile-on. I realise that he probably didn’t want a co-host, but the network wanted me to be the co-host, so I didn’t believe I should turn down the chance. It wasn’t fair to him, in my opinion. However, it was also unfair to me.”

 

Despite the difficult times, Ripa cherishes her memories of her time spent with Philbin, who passed away in July 2020 at the age of 88. It was different “off camera and outside of that building,” she claims. “I really loved the few times we did spend together. We once spent a vacation at the same resort, and he attended a dinner I threw. It was one of my favourite nights ever. I’ve never guffawed so much.”

 

She claims, “If I could become a tenth as good, I’d be pleased.” “It involves taking the audience along for the ride while keeping in mind that you are always the punchline. I did and still do love him.”

 

Released on September 27 is Live Wire: Long-Winded Short Stories.