Pat Sajak announced he is retiring as host of “Wheel of Fortune,” ending his 40-year run after the 2023-24 season.
The 76-year-old Sajak tweeted on Monday: “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!)”. Sajak has hosted the syndicated version of the game show since its debut in 1983, and also hosted a daytime edition on NBC from 1981-89.
Suzanne Prete, the Executive VP of game shows at Sony Pictures Television (which produces ‘Wheel of Fortune’) said in a statement: “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. 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 will serve as a consultant to the show for three years after leaving his hosting duties. He and White currently host ABC’s primetime Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, which is slated to begin its fourth season in the fall.
Sajak was a weatherman at KNBC in Los Angeles when he was offered the job as host of the NBC daytime version of Wheel of Fortune in 1981; Vanna White joined him a year later. In 1983, the duo took over the co-hosting duties for the evening syndicated version of Wheel. Sajak has won three Daytime Emmy Awards for outstanding game show host. He also received a lifetime achievement award at the 2011 Daytime Emmys (along with Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek).
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