After the sudden exit of stalwart hostPat Sajakfrom the long-running weekday primetimegame showWheel of Fortune, fans of the series were left wondering whether Sajak’s cohostVanna Whitewas also set to exit the series. However, it looks White will at the very least continue her role in some capacity, as she has just inked a deal to return as host for the spinoff, so to speak,Celebrity Wheel of Fortune. And according to theDeadline report, it looks like White may have gotten a long overdue pay raise as well.
White’s current contract for the mainWheel of Fortuneseries is still up in the air, though her current contract runs through 2024. Her cohost, Sajak,announced his departure from the series this June, in a decision that came as a shock to many. Sajak’s replacement was quickly procured, however, andRyan Seacrestwas announced to host only a few weeks after Sajak’s announced departure. Seacrest is, of course, a natural follow-up to Sajak, as Seacrest’s professional specialty seems to be in filling some pretty big hosting shoes. He did so for the famousDick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin' Evein the 2000s, and he also co-hostedLIVE with Kelly and Ryanfor several years.
A Spinning Wheel
The decision to quickly replace Sajak was likely strategic,as to avoid any chaossimilar to whatWheel of Fortune’s time slot neighbor series,Jeopardy, facedwhen searching for a new host. Sajak will still serve as host for the upcoming 41st season of the show, however, Seacrest will take over during Season 42, and he will also serve as a consulting producer on the series. The game show has been renewed through Season 45.
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Celebrity Wheel of Fortuneis a spinoff of the original series. It offers a grand prize of $1 million to celebrity contestants (don’t worry, the prize goes to a charity of the competitor’s choosing). The celebrities play together in friendly competition, spinning the iconic wheel and solving puzzles.Previous competitorsin the series have includedSheryl Lee Ralph,Jack Black,Julie Bowen, andRuPaul Charlesamong others.
No decision has been made regarding White’s contract for the main series, however, her presence has become an integral part of the series as a whole,and her role would perhaps be even more difficult to fill than Sajak’s. White joined the show in 1982, over 40 years ago. BothWheel of Fortuneand its celebrity version are produced by Sony Pictures Television, which also producesJeopardy.
