Ryan Seacrest will take over as host of the syndicated game show «Wheel of Fortune» from emcee Pat Sajak. retires at the end of the upcoming season, the show’s producer announced Tuesday.
Seacrest, a stalwart of American television and radio, has signed a «multi-year agreement» to host the show beginning in 2024, Sony Pictures Television said in a press release. He will also serve as a consulting producer.
«I am truly honored to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak. I can say, along with the rest of America, that it has been a privilege and pure joy to see Pat and Vanna on our television screens for an unprecedented 40 years. years, making us smile every night and feel at home with them,» he said in a statementreferring to co-host Vanna White.
«Pat, I love the way you always celebrate the contestants and make the viewers at home feel comfortable,» added Seacrest. «I look forward to learning as much as I can from you during this transition.»
Sajak, 76, announced his plans to retire two weeks ago.
«Well the time has come,» he tweeted on June 12. «I have decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be our last,» she said. «It’s been a wonderful journey and I’ll have more to say in the coming months.»
Sajak took the helm of «Wheel of Fortune» in 1981 with White. The show is a mainstay of prime-time programming on television networks across the country, often accompanied by the «Jeopardy!»
Seacrest, 48, is best known for hosting the singing competition series «American Idol.» He also has a weekly syndicated radio show. He co-hosted the daytime talk show «Live with Kelly and Ryan» for six years, alongside Kelly Ripa. He Announced his departure from the show in February.
“Wheel of Fortune,” which media mogul Merv Griffin created in 1975, revolves around contestants trying to solve hangman-style word puzzles. The show has become part of the American cultural lexicon, spawning merchandising and spin-off ties including «Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.»
Sony says «Wheel of Fortune» attracts more than 26 million viewers a week.
Sajak won three Daytime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Game Show Host category (1993, 1997, 1998), as well as a lifetime achievement award in 2011, according to IMDb.