Pop Culture

Pat Sajak Announces He's Retiring From 'Wheel of Fortune,' Ryan Seacrest to Replace Him (UPDATE)

'Wheel of Fortune' host Pat Sajak announced that he'll be retiring from the game show after its 41st season.

via Weiss Eubanks / NBCUniversal / Getty and Christopher Willard / ABC via Getty Images

UPDATED 6/27, 12:55 p.m. ET: Ryan Seacrest will be replacing Pat Sajak as the host of Wheel of Fortune, according to the New York Times.

UPDATED 6/14, 9:30 p.m. ET: The search is on as Sony looks for the next host of Wheel of Fortune.

Bloomberg reports that Ryan Seacrest is in talks to replace the retiring Pat Sajak.

The 48-year-old TV personality seemingly has extra time on his hands since his departure from Live with Kelly and Ryan. Sources tell TMZ that Sony is in the early stages of finding the right candidate suited for the job, naming Seacrest as a close consideration.

See original story below.

Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak took to social media on Monday to announce that he'll be retiring as host of the popular game show after its 41st season airs.

"Well, the time has come. I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last," the 76-year-old wrote on Twitter. "It’s been a wonderful ride, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all. (If nothing else, it’ll keep the clickbait sites busy!)"

“As the host of Wheel of Fortune, Pat has entertained millions of viewers across America for 40 amazing years,” Suzanne Prete, executive vice president of game shows at Sony Pictures Television, said in a statement, per The Hollywood Reporter. “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. Pat has agreed to continue as a consultant on the show for three years following his last year hosting, so we’re thrilled to have him remaining close to the Wheel of Fortune family.”

Sajak began hosting the now iconic show back in 1981 alongside Vanna White.

A replacement for Sajak has yet to be announced.

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