Pat Sajak, veteran host of the game show âWheel of Fortune,â will be stepping down.
On Monday, Sajak, 76, announced the news of his retirement on his Twitter page after more than 40 years of hosting the show, according to NBC News.
âWell, the time has come. Iâve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last,â he wrote.
Sajak added his time hosting the show has âbeen a wonderful rideâ and teased he will have more to share soon.
âMany thanks to you all. (If nothing else, itâll keep the clickbait sites busy!),â he concluded.
A replacement for Sajak has yet to be announced.
Suzanne Prete, executive vice president of game shows at Sony Pictures Television, gave a statement to the Hollywood Reporter on Sajakâs departure.
âAs the host of âWheel of Fortune,â 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,â she said.
Prete said Sajak will still take part in the show as a consultant for three years following âhis last year of hosting.â
âSo weâre thrilled to have him remaining close to the âWheel of Fortuneâ family,â she continued.
In 2021, Sajak spoke with Entertainment Tonight (E.T.) and shared he and longtime co-host Vanna White wouldnât be hosting the show for much longer.
âWeâre certainly closer to the end than the beginning,â he said. âIâd like to leave before people tune in and look at me and say, âOoh, what happened to him?'â
He added, âI wouldnât bet on seeing us in, like, 10 years, I would say.â
In December 2022, White told People exclusively she had âno ideaâ whether the show would continue once they both retire.
âI canât imagine. Everybody relates âWheel of Fortuneâ to Pat and Vanna,â she said.
She also referred to the legendary duo as similar to âKen and Barbie.â
âWeâve been in everybodyâs homes for 40 years, so it would be weird having somebody else turn my letters,â she shared.