Wheel of Fortune cohost Vanna White speaks out about her future on beloved game show – as she recalls heartwarming Pat Sajak moment on her first day

Wheel of Fortune star Vanna White has revealed how long she plans to continue working on the hit game show following the impending departure of her longtime cohost, Pat Sajak.

After news broke in June 2023 that Sajak, 77, would retire after hosting more than 7,500 editions since 1981, White, 67, admitted she also thought about leaving the show – but has since revealed that she’s not quite ready to say goodbye. and has signed a new two-year contract.

When asked how long she thinks she will stick around during an interview with TV insiderWhite replied, “I don’t know. When I heard Pat was retiring, I thought maybe I should retire too, but I’m not ready yet!’

‘We’ll see how I feel by the end of those two years. “I thank God that I still love my job after all these years,” she added, before admitting that she “can’t describe” how she feels about his retirement.

‘I’m happy for him. I can’t imagine doing the show without him after 41 years. I summarize it as [like] When you read a good book, it always has to end. This is the best book I have ever read,” said the mother of two.

Vanna has admitted that she was thinking about retiring after cohost Pat Sajak announced he was leaving

Recalling her very first day on Wheel of Fortune in 1982, White said, “I remember being extremely nervous. It was hard for me to even talk, my mouth was twitching with nerves because it was, “I can’t believe this is happening. I’m on a TV show.”

When asked what helped her get through it, she revealed, “Pat. [He said,] “Just relax, it’ll be fine.” I was just a little old girl from North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and wanted to be on TV since I was ten. He made me feel comfortable in front of a camera. He was my teacher.’

White then revealed her “fondest memories of Pat,” saying, “I don’t think there is anything [he and I] which I haven’t talked about in 8,000 shows.

‘We’ve traveled the world together, we’ve watched our children grow up together, we’ve thrown pies in each other’s faces.

‘He’s so funny, I love him like a brother. Gosh, I’ve known him longer than anyone, we’ll be friends forever.’

Sajak’s final episode with Wheel of Fortune will air on June 7 before Ryan Seacrest takes over as host.

Seacrest, 49, recently opened up about his upcoming role as host of Wheel of Fortune, which debuts in September, and on which he will also serve as a consulting producer.

‘Being next to Vanna, she is of course a legend. She is an icon,” he said E! News when asked if he was looking forward to his new job.

Vanna and Pat have worked together on the show since the early 1980s

Vanna admits it was Pat who made her feel ‘comfortable in front of a camera’ when she first joined the game show in 1982

Ryan Seacrest will appear on Pat’s shows in September as the new host of Wheel of Fortune

“We shot some promos for next season, and she’s just so down to earth. She’s exactly what you’d expect.”

He continued, “It’s just so exciting to think about being on that set. I’ve been watching the show for decades. I’m a fan of the show and the game is the star.’

White also had nothing but nice things to say about her new cohost.

“He was so nice and said, ‘No one will ever replace Pat, I’m not trying to replace Pat. I’m just really happy to be able to work with you and I’ll do whatever it takes. everything I need to know,’ so that was a lot of fun,” she said of Seacrest.