Live hosts Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa are more than just co-stars. They married nearly 30 years ago after an adorable and unique meet-cute. They hope to be married throughout their golden years. But he revealed a backup plan if she dɪes first.

Former Soap Super Couple Celebrates Huge Real-Life Milestone

Kelly Ripa joined All My Children in 1990 and had several on-screen love interests before Mark Consuelos changed both of their lives by joining the show in 1995. His character, Mateo, was paired with Kelly Ripa’s character Hayley Vaughan. Love blossomed on-screen and off. The couple eloped in real life in 1996.

They just celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary earlier this month. They also watched their youngest son, Joaquin, 22, graduate from college, making them empty-nesters for the first time in almost three decades. The newlyweds welcomed their first child, Michael, in 1997. The couple’s only daughter, Lola, followed in 2001.

Kelly Ripa Admits Marriage To Mark Consuelos Was Hard

The All My Children alum have been married for a long time and truly enjoy spending time together. But it wasn’t always sunshine and roses. An interaction between the married couple and the Live studio audience was posted on Instagram. In the clip, Kelly Ripa revealed that they struggled in the first year of marriage.

“The first year of marriage for us was the worst. Like, it was really hard. We discovered things about each other, like ‘Oh my god, he breathes and it sounds irritating to me!’… So you have to just not panic because you’ll settle into each other. A lot of people find the first year insurmountable and then it sort of deteriorates,” she told the audience.

Luckily, they made it through and are stronger than ever. But what if one of them were to dɪe?

He Reveals Backup Plan If She Dɪes

The popular TV hosts often share tidbits from their real lives during the show’s opening dialogue or in chats with guests. On one recent episode of Live With Kelly and Mark, he revealed the shocking action he would take if she were to dɪe.

She said that he would “fall apart” without her. He agreed but then revealed his backup plan. “But I do feel like someone would be there on the other end just to pick me up and make sure I’m okay. Pretty sure,” he said.

“I’d have to get used to their college schedule and all that stuff,” he added, joking that his new wife would be much, much younger than his current wife.

Kelly Ripa cracked that if that was his plan, she hoped to stay alive to see his second wife. The couple frequently bicker playfully about him taking a second wife. Though sometimes their on-screen bickering isn’t as playful as it seems. Click here to find out what once put him in the dog house.

Can you imagine Mark Consuelos or Kelly Ripa marrying someone else if one of them passed away? Share your thoughts in the comments.