Ryan Seacrest is set to take over as the new host of the popular game show “Wheel of Fortune,” according to an announcement by Sony Pictures Television. Seacrest, who recently departed from “Live with Kelly and Ryan,” will also serve as a consulting producer on the show. The announcement came on Tuesday, and Seacrest expressed his excitement in a lengthy statement shared on Instagram. He mentioned that he feels humbled to step into the shoes of the “legendary” longtime host, Pat Sajak, who will retire next summer.
Seacrest acknowledged the privilege of watching Pat and Vanna White on television screens for 40 years, bringing smiles and a sense of comfort to viewers. He expressed admiration for the way Pat celebrated the contestants and made the audience feel at ease. Seacrest looks forward to learning from Pat during the transition and continuing the tradition of spinning the wheel alongside the great Vanna White.
Seacrest also shared a personal connection to the show, mentioning that one of his first jobs was hosting a game show called “Click” for Merv Griffin, who created “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy!” He described his appointment as a full-circle moment.
While Vanna White remains under contract for at least another year on “Wheel of Fortune,” she has yet to sign a new deal. Pat Sajak, who is 76 years old, announced his decision to step down after the show’s 41st season, which begins in September. Sony acted swiftly to find a replacement for Sajak, aiming to avoid a prolonged process like the one to fill the shoes of “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek, who passed away in 2020. After a series of guest hosts, including the show’s producer, Mike Richards, who later resigned, Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik now host different versions of “Jeopardy!”
Both “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy!” are highly popular shows, attracting over 8 million viewers on local stations, usually in the early evenings. The shows also air celebrity editions in primetime on ABC.
Ryan Seacrest is expected to begin hosting “Wheel of Fortune” in 2024. In the past, Pat Sajak mentioned that he had no interest in being involved in the process of finding his replacement, as he does not own or produce the show. He expressed confidence that the producers would find a suitable replacement, although he had never given it much thought.