Vanna White cheekily defends decision to stay on Wheel of Fortune after long-term co-host Pat Sajak’s retirement

VANNA White has defended her decision to continue on Wheel of Fortune after her long-term co-host Pat Sajak retired earlier this year.

In a new interview, Vanna, 67, discussed her future on the long-running CBS show, as a new era for Wheel of Fortune gets underway later this month.

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Wheel of Fortune

Wheel of Fortune

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Wheel of Fortune

The beloved TV star will reprise her presenting role alongside Ryan Seacrest, who was named Pat’s replacement, when Wheel of Fortune returns to TV screens on September 9.

Vanna, who was expected to follow Pat into retirement, recently told The New York Times she wasn’t quite ready to hang up her heels and “play golf every day.”

“Fortunately, I’m healthy, I’m active and I can still walk in those six-inch heels and I still wear those dresses,” she told the newspaper.

“Well, they’re not necessarily six inches – they feel like they’re six inches,” Vanna quipped.

Vann will continue to co-host Wheel of Fortune through the 2025-26 season.

ON WORKING WITH RYAN

Legendary presenter Pat, 77, announced he was retiring from Wheel of Fortune after hosting the game show for over four decades in a short statement last June.

“It’s been a wonderful ride,” the TV veteran, who has hosted over 8,000 episodes of Wheel of Fortune, added.

Shortly after, Ryan, 49, confirmed he would be taking over from Pat in a heartfelt message on social media.

Vanna recently admitted she was initially “very scared” to work with the American Idol presenter, after 41 years co-hosting Wheel of Fortune with Pat.

Appearing alongside Ryan, she was discussing his upcoming debut during a segment on the CBS Sunday Morning show on September 1.

When correspondent Luke Burbank asked Vanna about her experience co-hosting Wheel of Fortune with Ryan, she said, “I think our chemistry is good.”

However, Vanna agreed, she was initially “nervous about that element”, telling the broadcaster, “I had no idea what to expect when I’m used to one person for so long.

“I was very scared – but he’s doing a great job!” she continued, referring to the transition from Pat to Ryan, ahead of the show’s 42nd season premiere next week.

RYAN’S WoF FUTURE REVEALED

Elsewhere in The New York Times profile, it was confirmed that Ryan will host Wheel of Fortune “through the early 2030s” to help the show transition seamlessly to a streaming platform.

Sony chairman Tony Vinciquerra told the Times, “We want to have the continuity of the host, someone who is well known, and who will travel with the show through that transition.

Wheel of Fortune Host Timeline

Although Pat and Vanna have been a staple on the game show for decades, there have been other hosts

Chuck Woolery was the host from 1975 to 1981

He co-hosted alongside Susan Stafford (1975 to 1982)

Vanna White then stepped in as hostess in 1982 and has been ever since

After a contract and salary dispute, the show got rid of Chuck and brought in Pat in 1982

Pat hosted with Susan for one season

He then left the game show in 1989 to host a late-night talk show for CBS

For five months, NFL player Rolf Benirschke took his place

In July 1989, Bob Goen hosted the show on CBS

He hosted for a year and a half until the show was canceled in 1991

The show was then moved to ABC with Pat and Vanna hosting for the foreseeable future

In 2023, Pat announced his retirement and Ryan Seacrest as quickly named as his replacement

“I can’t think of a better person to do that with than Ryan.”

Both Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! are currently only available to watch on cable, which has made it more difficult to attract younger viewers who are tuned into streaming platforms like Netflix.

The sister shows, which are both owned by Sony, recently revealed that a streaming announcement is imminent.

However, no further details are available at this time.

RYAN IS SHAKING THINGS UP

Recently, a source close to the production told The U.S. Sun that Ryan’s hosting style could not be more different to Pat’s laid-back demeanor.

“Ryan is simply not doing the low-key version of the show that Pat did,” a longtime studio source said.

“He’s brought every bit of his ‘hype-beast’ morning radio and New Year’s Eve energy to the production of his first episodes,” they added, referring to Ryan’s other hosting gigs.

The Times reported that Ryan has infused the show with a new energy, explaining, “He can break into a salsa dance. He moves easily around the stage.

“And he does not require index cards — one of Mr. Sajak’s hallmarks — when he introduces each new contestant.”

Explaining how he prepared for one of TV’s most coveted presenting gigs, Ryan told the outlet, “I studied episodes of Pat and Vanna, I read the rule book, I made flashcards of the rules.”

Wheel of Fortune’s 42nd season premieres on Monday, September 9.

Wheel of Fortune

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