Pat Sajak Announces His Retirement As Host of Wheel of Fortune
The long-time WoF host announced that season 41 will be his last.
America’s Game will soon need a new host (until they just hire Maggie Sajak). Long-time Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak announced on Twitter today that he plans to step down as emcee after the end of Season 41.
In the tweet, he writes: “I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last.”
Sajak’s tenure as the host of Wheel of Fortune started in 1981, when Merv Griffin was impressed by the television weatherman’s on-screen presence and hired him to replace Chuck Woolery. He remained the host of the syndicated nighttime version through the 90s and 2000s, and his tenure will end at the end of the 2024 season.
“As the host of Wheel of Fortune, Pat has entertained millions of viewers across America for 40 amazing years,” said Suzanne Prete, EVP, Game Shows, Sony Pictures Television, in a statement found on Deadline Hollywood. “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 has only hosted one other game show, and even then, only for a day: The April 1, 1997 episode of Jeopardy!.
There’s no currently plans on who will replace Sajak, however over the past two years, the show has featured his daughter, Maggie, in increasingly-visible roles on the show. It would not be surprising if she took over for her dad at the start of season 42.
This is a developing story.