Pat Sajak, 76, has announced his retirement from Wheel of Fortune as he remains the longest-running host of an American games show.
On Monday (June 12), Pat revealed in a tweet that the next season of the popular TV show would be his last and final after more than four decades.
He announced: “Well, the time has come. I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last.”
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Adding: “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!).”
The show responded to his announcement, sharing: “Thank you to the best host in the biz. Wheel of Fortune would not be what it is today without you, Pat. Looking forward to Season 41 being better than ever!”
(Image: Getty Images)
The TV legend or the network didn’t confirm who would replace him.
However, the studio that produces the show at Sony Pictures Television confirmed that the host will “continue as a consultant on the show for three years following his last year hosting.”
Pat has hosted the game show since it first aired on NBC as a network daytime television program in 1981 after having been hand-picked by show creator Merv Griffin.
(Image: ABC via Getty Images)
He continued his hosting duties as the show became syndicated in 1983 and has since hosted various spinoff shows, including 2021’s Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.
The TV star even won a Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement award in 2011 for his role on the show and has even earned three additional Emmys for his duties to the show.
Pat explained in the past few years that he wouldn’t be spinning the wheel forever and revealed in November 2017 that he was “getting closer to the end.”
(Image: ABC via Getty Images)
I’d like to leave while the show is still popular. That would be nice – to let someone else take over on a show that’s still working well,” he said.
Adding: “I’d also like to leave before people tune in and go, ‘My God, what the hell happened to him?'”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
