Pat Sajak, veteran host of the game show “Wheel of Fortune,” will be stepping down.
On Monday, Sajak, 76, announced the news of his retirement on his Twitter page after more than 40 years of hosting the show, according to NBC News.
“Well, the time has come. I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last,” he wrote.
Sajak added his time hosting the show has “been a wonderful ride” and teased he will have more to share soon.
“Many thanks to you all. (If nothing else, it’ll keep the clickbait sites busy!),” he concluded.
A replacement for Sajak has yet to be announced.
Well, the time has come. 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. (If nothing else, it’ll keep the clickbait sites busy!)
— Pat Sajak (@patsajak) June 12, 2023
Suzanne Prete, executive vice president of game shows at Sony Pictures Television, gave a statement to the Hollywood Reporter on Sajak’s departure.
“As the host of ‘Wheel of Fortune,’ Pat has entertained millions of viewers across America for 40 amazing years. 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,” she said.
Prete said Sajak will still take part in the show as a consultant for three years following “his last year of hosting.”
“So we’re thrilled to have him remaining close to the ‘Wheel of Fortune’ family,” she continued.
In 2021, Sajak spoke with Entertainment Tonight (E.T.) and shared he and longtime co-host Vanna White wouldn’t be hosting the show for much longer.
“We’re certainly closer to the end than the beginning,” he said. “I’d like to leave before people tune in and look at me and say, ‘Ooh, what happened to him?'”
He added, “I wouldn’t bet on seeing us in, like, 10 years, I would say.”
In December 2022, White told People exclusively she had “no idea” whether the show would continue once they both retire.
“I can’t imagine. Everybody relates ‘Wheel of Fortune’ to Pat and Vanna,” she said.
She also referred to the legendary duo as similar to “Ken and Barbie.”
“We’ve been in everybody’s homes for 40 years, so it would be weird having somebody else turn my letters,” she shared.