Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings reveals the last conversation he had with predecessor Alex Trebek just HOURS before he died – admitting he had no idea it would be the final time they spoke: ‘We thought he’d bounce back’

Danger! host Ken Jennings has opened up on his latest conversation with the late Alex Trebek, revealing that the pair had spoken about the show the night before Trebek died.

The iconic game show star passed away in November 2020 at the age of 80, after battling pancreatic cancer for nearly two years.

During Trebek’s time as the host, Jennings became the highest-earning contestant on the show and began working as a guest host for the TV legend.

The 49-year-old revealed that the pair enjoyed a chat about him guest-hosting for the star just hours before Trebek eventually passed away.

Jennings (pictured with Trebek) said he had no idea this would be his last chance to speak to his predecessor, thinking the 80-year-old would “bounce back.”

Speak with Last podcast on the leftrecalls Jennings, “I ended up talking to him, which turned out to be the night before the day he passed, about guest hosting for him.”

The conversation had turned to Trebek when Jennings was asked if the host had ever given him any advice on the job.

Jennings admitted, “We didn’t really know. We thought, “Oh, he’s getting better, he’s coming back, he’s going to host again.” I was just going to fill it in.

“You know, he gave me the impression he’d always had over the years, which was that he didn’t want to be the center of attention with Jeopardy!”

He continued, “He was never announced as the star of Jeopardy! – he was always the host of Jeopardy! because he felt that the game itself and the participants should be the star.’

Jennings has shared hosting duties for the show with The Big Bang Theory star Mayim Bialik since Trebek’s passing.

However, some fans have been disappointed by the host due to his recent decision to take over from Bailik on Celebrity Jeopardy! – in the midst of the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

Some viewers even go so far as to label the television star a “scab” for crossing picket lines.

Late icon: Jennings revealed in a new interview that the couple talked about the show the night before Trebek died

Shared history: The iconic game show star passed away in November 2020 at the age of 80, after battling pancreatic cancer for nearly two years

Bialik, 47, was initially set to host the spin-off but decided to step down to support the writers and actors who are currently battling unfair wages, among other things.

While the actress and Jennings parted ways as hosts of the most recent regular season of Jeopardy!, the former previously hosted the spin-off Celebrity Jeopardy! show alone.

Now Jennings has stepped in for the final season, which premieres September 27, despite the fact that the strikes show no signs of coming to an end.

Showrunner Michael Davies revealed that the material for Celebrity Jeopardy! season two was written before the strike.

The plan for Jeopardy! moving forward means reusing material from the previous season rather than taking a break or showing reruns to support the strike.

Fans on Twitter called out Jennings for being a villain, a term used for someone who chooses to cross the picket line and work during a strike.

The game show star initially crossed the picket line in May, when the strike first began.

New role: Jennings now shares hosting duties with The Big Bang Theory star Mayim Bialik

A blast from the past: the game cobbler became a well-known figure on Jeopardy! when he entered the show as a contestant in 2004

Big Winner: In total, the trivia master walked away with $4.52 million; pictured with Trebek in 2020

Bialik immediately quit her hosting duties when the strike was announced.

The pair alternated hosting duties this season, with Jennings hosting episodes between August and December and Bialik taking over in January.

The former danger! champion instead took the rest of her slot and seemingly will continue to do so until the strike is over.

Jennings became a renowned figure on Jeopardy! when he entered the show as a contestant in 2004.

He went on to put on the longest streak ever on the show with 74 matches won. In total, the trivia master ultimately walked away with $4.52 million.

He would go on to appear in a number of tournaments, including the Ultimate Tournament of Champions in 2005, Jeopardy!: The IBM Challenge in 2011, the Battle of the Decades in 2014, and Jeopardy! All-Star games in 2019.

Jennings defended his title as the GOAT, the greatest of all time, when he won a special event against fellow champions Brad Rutter and James Holzhauer.