Ryan Seacrest Named New Host of ‘Wheel of Fortune’
Ryan Seacrest is adding another show to host on his resume. The television personality and producer will take over as host of the syndicated game show Wheel of Fortune after longtime host Pat Sajak retires at the end of the next season. In an announcement by the program’s producer Tuesday (June 27), Seacrest signed a “multi-year agreement” to host the show starting in 2024. He will also serve as a consulting producer.
Seacrest’s Host Announcement
Shortly after the news was announced, Seacrest, 48, took to Twitter to spread the news. “I’m truly humbled to be stepping into the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak. I can say, along with the rest of America, that it’s been a privilege and pure joy to watch Pat and Vanna on our television screens for an unprecedented 40 years, making us smile every night and feel right at home with them,” he said, referring to co-host Vanna White.
The American Idol host added that he loves how Pat “always celebrated the contestants and made viewers at home feel at ease.” Though Seacrest has been a host for 30 years, he states that there is more to learn for Sajak during this transition. In 1993, Seacrest hosted the first season of ESPN’s Radical Outdoor Challenge. In Seacrest’s announcement post, he referred to one of his first jobs as a host, a “little game show called Click for Merv Griffin.” It was a kids’ game show based around computers and the then-relatively novel medium of the Internet. It ran for two seasons.
Wheel of Fortune pic.twitter.com/pQeTpWsPx7
— Ryan Seacrest (@RyanSeacrest) June 27, 2023
Sajak’s Retirement
Sajak, 76, announced his plans to retire two weeks ago on Twitter. “Well, the time has come,” he said. After 40 seasons of hosting, he shared his decision to step down after the upcoming season ends. “It’s been a wonderful ride, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months,” he said before thanking fans. He took the helm of the Merv Griffin-created show in 1981, six years after its creation, alongside co-host White.
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 (@PatOnWheel) June 12, 2023
