Wheel Of Fortune host Pat Sajak says he’ll retire next year
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Pat Sajak has hosted Wheel Of Fortune since 1981.
PHOTO: AFP
LOS ANGELES – Pat Sajak, who has hosted the hit game show Wheel Of Fortune since Ronald Reagan was United States president, will retire in 2024.
“Well, the time has come,” said Sajak on Monday in a statement to Bloomberg News.
“I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last. It’s been a wonderful ride and I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all.”
Wheel Of Fortune is a fixture on local television stations across the country, routinely ranking as one of the most-watched shows outside of prime time.
In the week of May 28, the show attracted 7.72 million viewers, second only to Jeopardy! among shows that air in syndication.
Sajak, 76, was hired as host in 1981 by show creator Merv Griffin. The programme’s owner, Sony Group Corporation, has fielded inquiries from candidates seeking to replace him but has not settled on one.
Replacements discussed include TV producer and host Ryan Seacrest, say people familiar with the matter. Spokesmen for Sony and Seacrest declined to comment.
“Pat has entertained millions of viewers across America for 40 amazing years,” said Ms Suzanne Prete, a Sony executive vice-president, in a statement.
“We are incredibly grateful and proud to have had Pat as our host for all these years, and we look forward to celebrating his outstanding career throughout the upcoming season.”
The studio declined to comment on plans for long-time co-host Vanna White,
Sajak has agreed to serve as a consultant on the show for three years following his last year of hosting, said Sony.
Wheel Of Fortune, a variation of hangman in which contestants try to guess a term or phrase after spinning a wheel that determines their prize money, was created by Griffin in 1975.
It has spawned spin-offs, such as Celebrity Wheel Of Fortune, and merchandise, including one of the most popular slot machines in history.
Sony wants to manage the transition better than it did for Jeopardy!, another popular game show.
After the death of long-time Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek in 2020,
He stepped down just a short time later after the website The Ringer reported on sexist comments he made
