Kelly Ripa Co-Host Andy Cohen Thanks ‘Live’ Star For Skin Cancer Screening

Kelly Ripa’s frequent Live guest co-host, Andy Cohen, recently thanked the morning queen for help in the early detection of his skin cancer. On Friday’s Live with Kelly show, again co-hosted by Cohen, the Watch What Happens Live host revealed his skin cancer diagnosis and credited Ripa and her husband, Mark Consuelos, with first recommending that he get it checked out. Andy subsequently had surgery to remedy the situation.

In April, the Bravo TV host first noticed a dark discoloration on his lip, as he recounted with Ripa on Live. Andy recalled showing the spot to Kelly and Mark, who both urged him to get it promptly evaluated by a doctor — the ensuing diagnosis revealed melanoma. “Everything is fine now,” Cohen confirmed on Friday morning’s Live with Kelly telecast. “The lip heals very well. I really had a chunk removed out of it.”

Newsday reports that Kelly Ripa’s co-host Andy Cohen initially refused to see a doctor regarding the apparent skin irregularity. Andy told the studio audience during last week’s Live with Kelly taping that it was only at Ripa and Conseulos’ insistence did he eventually seek the medical intervention that quite possibly saved his life.

“[They] were dogmatic that I get it checked out. And I didn’t, because I was like, ‘Oh no, I’m sure it’s nothing.’ And she kept on me.”

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Andy proudly recognized Ripa’s outgoing and courageous friendship in assisting him with the skin cancer screening. As Cohen detailed on Friday’s Live show, he is extremely appreciative to Kelly and her husband for their life-saving help, and he warned against excessive sun exposure.

“That’s a good friend. It really taught me, because I am tanorexic. I love the sun, and I really do, but just be careful. I, of course, never thought that kind of thing would happen to me, and it will change my relationship to the sun. But [Ripa] really helped me out there. I’m very grateful.”

The ongoing Kelly Ripa co-host search has many viewers pegging Andy Cohen as a probable co-host pick. As previously reported by the Inquisitr, Andy is on a seeming shortlist of fan-favored co-host guests who have recently appeared alongside Ripa to co-host the popular Live with Kelly morning show.

Since former co-host Michael Strahan left the Live show in May, Kelly has co-hosted the program with a rotating cache of celebrity guest co-hosts. Other apparent co-host front-runners include Jerry O’Connell, Fred Savage, and Jussie Smollett. Who do you think should be Ripa’s permanent co-host on Live with Kelly? Do you think Ripa will choose any of these guests as her constant co-host?

Live‘s co-host cavalcade continues this week, as Ripa welcomes another batch of celebrity guest hosts to help her present the weekday morning talk show. On Monday, November 28, Ripa will co-host Live with Parks and Recreation funnyman Billy Eichner. CNN anchor and popular newsman Anderson Cooper will return to Live with Kelly on the morning of Tuesday, November 29, for yet another sit-in with Ripa as her co-host.

The Live with Kelly broadcast on Wednesday, November 30, will feature The Walking Dead‘s Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Ripa’s co-host. The show for Thursday, December 1, finds Ripa’s husband Mark Consuelos returning the fold for a further co-host appearance beside his wife. Kelly will finish out the week with Freaks and Geeks actress Busy Philipps in the co-host chair.

Did you watch Friday’s Live with Kelly show? What did you think of Andy Cohen’s skin cancer scare? Do you think Andy could possibly become Ripa’s new co-host on Live? Let us know what you think about Kelly Ripa and Andy Cohen in the comments section below.

[Featured Image by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images]