Beloved U.S. chat show host Kelly Ripa was forced to cut short a live broadcast of hit morning show LIVE WITH REGIS + KELLY on Tuesday (27Nov07) after falling ill. The former soap star's partner Regis Philbin was forced to explain her absence later during the telecast, which was being broadcast from the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas. Ripa appeared to be tired and unwell at the beginning of the show, but she made it through an interview with Project Runway star Tim Gunn before leaving the set during a commercial break. Philbin told viewers, "Kelly is a little bit under the weather right now. We hope she'll be back before the show is over." She did not return. Ripa has since been diagnosed with stomach flu. She is expected to return to the show on Wednesday (28Nov07).