Pat Sajak‘s final run on Wheel of Fortune is quickly coming to a close. After four decades as host of the iconic game show, Sajak’s final episode will air on Friday, June 7, Deadline has confirmed.
Sajak’s farewell episode, which tapes today, will serve as Wheel‘s Season 41 finale.
Sajak announced in June 2023 that he was ready to retire as host from the syndicated game show, and Season 41 would be his last. He agreed to stay on as a consultant on the show for three years following his final year hosting, said Suzanne Prete, EVP Game Shows at Sony Pictures Television, when Sajak announced his retirement.
Sajak and longtime colleague Vanna White signed contract extensions in 2021 that take them through the current season. He has hosted Wheel of Fortune since 1981 and has won three Emmys for his work, not counting the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award he received from the TV Academy. He originally was recruited by creator Merv Griffin to take over for the outgoing Chuck Woolery, having already hosted two unscripted game pilots called Press Your Luck and Puzzlers.
In the 1980s, Sajak did double duty, hosting a daytime version on NBC and a syndicated version in the evening. When the show hit its 36th in 2018, Sajak became the longest-running host of any game show, surpassing The Price Is Right‘s Bob Barker.
A week after Sajak announced his retirement, it was revealed that Ryan Seacrest would be taking over as host in Season 42. Seacrest also will serve as consulting producer on the show.
Lynette Rice contributed to this report.
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