Mark Steines Leaves the Hallmark Channel in Sudden Exit from 'Home & Family'

Mark Steines is out at the Hallmark Channel.

The entertainment journalist will no longer host Home & Family, the network announced in an abrupt statement Thursday night.

“Today Hallmark Channel has parted ways with Mark Steines as the co-host of the network’s lifestyle series ‘Home &Family,'” the statement reads. “We are extremely grateful to Mark for his incredible work and wish him all the best success in his future endeavors.”

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Steines, 53, has hosted the program since 2012, and Debbie Matenopoulos joined as co-host in 2016.

His rep tells PEOPLE that when he went to work on Wednesday, he did not know it would be his last day.

“Hallmark gave us some vague reasons regarding ‘creative’ and specifically said it was not for cause,” his rep adds. “We have received nothing but positive reviews of him as the host of Hallmark Home & Family. The show just received another Emmy nomination — that was the third. We know ratings have been up, and if you watch the episode this morning, you will see the shock and sadness by the cast when they had to make this announcement on air.”

Reps for Hallmark and Matenopolous did not return PEOPLE’s requests for comment.