Pat Sajak leaving 'Wheel of Fortune'
By Tracy Wright | Fox News
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Pat Sajak announced he's leaving "Wheel of Fortune" after 40 years.
Sajak, 76, tweeted that while "it's been a wonderful ride," his 41st season would be his last with the show.
"Well, the time has come. I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last," he wrote.
It's currently unclear who will take over his spot, but Internet chatter has suggested his daughter, country singer Maggie Sajak, could fill his shoes.
He added, "It’s been a wonderful ride, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all. (If nothing else, it’ll keep the clickbait sites busy!)"
Sajak has hosted the famous game show since 1981. The program first premiered in 1975 with Chuck Woolery and Susan Stafford.
In September 2022, Sajak surpassed "Price is Right" host Bob Barker and became the longest-running host of any game show.
"As the host of 'Wheel of Fortune,' Pat has entertained millions of viewers across America for 40 amazing years," Suzanne Prete, Executive Vice President, Game Shows, Sony Pictures Television, shared in a statement with Fox News Digital.
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"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.Pat has agreed to continue as a consultant on the show for three years following his last year hosting, so we’re thrilled to have him remaining close to the ‘Wheel of Fortune’ family!"
Sajak admitted he was "very lucky in that I always knew that I wanted to be in broadcasting."
"My early heroes were people like Arthur Godfrey, Dave Garroway, Steve Allen and, especially, Jack Paar," he shared on the show's website. "They helped shape what a television personality was, paving the way for so many others."
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Vanna White became his regular co-host in December 1982 after Susan Stafford left the show months before.
His daughter Maggie recently stepped in for White during a series switch-up with "Jeopardy!"
Maggie, 29, flipped letters along the sparkling game board in early May as she finished law school.
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Her history with the show also goes behind scenes where she worked as a social media correspondent since 2021 while attending school.
"The Wheel of Fortune staff and crew have always been like an extended family and I’m thrilled to be working with them," Maggie said in a statement.
"It’s a real privilege to be able to treat the show’s longtime viewers to a look at what goes on when the cameras aren’t rolling. Plus, I get to use the carpool lane with my father!"
Pat Sajak's 'Wheel of Fortune' replacement: Ryan Seacrest’s name reportedly being discussed
By Brie Stimson | Fox News
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Following "Wheel of Fortune" host Pat Sajak’s announcement Monday that he plans to retire from the long-running game show after next season, there is speculation over who might replace the 76-year-old.
Ubiquitous host Ryan Seacrest is among several people being considered for his replacement by "Wheel of Fortune" owner Sony Group Corp, Bloomberg reported, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Fox News Digital has reached out to "Wheel of Fortune" and reps for Seacrest for comment.
Seacrest most recently left co-hosting duties at "Live with Kelly and Ryan" and has moved back to Los Angeles.
‘WHEEL OF FORTUNE’ HOST PAT SAJAK SHARES EMOTIONAL MOMENT WITH CONTESTANT
The 48-year-old also hosts "American Idol" and has led the "Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve" countdown every year since 2007 when Clark stepped down.
Sajak, who has hosted "Wheel" since 1981, made his announcement on Monday.
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"Well, the time has come. I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last," he tweeted. "It’s been a wonderful ride, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all."
Fans of the show have also suggested on social media that Sajak’s daughter Maggie Sajak, 28, who works as the show’s social media correspondent and stepped in for Vanna White turning letters in 2019 and earlier this year, could take over for her father.
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White has not commented on if she plans to stay on after Sajak exits.
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White did share words of encouragement though, tweeting, "When we started @WheelofFortune who could have imagined we’d still be at it 41 seasons later? I couldn’t be happier to have shared the stage with you for all these years with one more to come. Cheers to you, @patsajak!"
