Who is the new 'Wheel of Fortune' host? Vanna White not a shoo-in as Pat Sajak pushed for daughter Maggie to take over
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: When Pat Sajak steps down from hosting 'Wheel of Fortune' following the game show's 41st season, sources believe he will secretly campaign for his daughter Maggie to take over. Meanwhile, some claim co-host Vanna White has engaged a powerful attorney to fight for the position, as reported by Radar Online. Maggie, 28, previously announced on her Instagram Stories that she is getting ready to replace her father on an episode of 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune'.
On June 12, 76-year-old Pat Sajak made his retirement official through Twitter, writing, "I've decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last." In response to the announcement, White, who debuted on the game show in 1982, one year after Sajak, said, "When we started @WheelofFortune who could have imagined we’d still be at it 41 seasons later? I couldn’t be happier to have shared the stage with you for all these years with one more to come." White concluded her tribute by saying, "Cheers to you, @patsajak!"
When we started @WheelofFortune who could have imagined we’d still be at it 41 seasons later? I couldn’t be happier to have shared the stage with you for all these years with one more to come. Cheers to you, @patsajak! https://t.co/yYmo3G0Dtb
— Vanna White (@TheVannaWhite) June 13, 2023
'Pat wouldn’t be stepping down without first protecting Maggie'
According to sources with direct knowledge of the issue, Pat "wouldn’t be stepping down without first protecting Maggie. To be honest, he’s more concerned about Maggie’s future than Vanna White’s." Maggie has worked as a 'Wheel of Fortune' correspondent from the 2021–2022 season, and occasionally filled in for White.
It appears Pat wants Maggie to take over his position instead of replacing Vanna. Last year, sources stated that "Pat is ready to leave the show, but not until his replacement is secured, and he has been lobbying hard for his daughter, Maggie, to succeed him. Pat has nothing left to prove but he is determined to make sure Maggie gets a chance to prove herself. He saw the disaster Jeopardy! had trying to replace Alex Trebek and he’s not going to allow that to happen with Wheel of Fortune."
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'Vanna believes it’s her time'
Sources claimed that White has been attempting to replace Pat as host over Pat's wishes to push his daughter. According to a television insider, "Vanna believes it’s her time and thinks she is the natural choice." The source further added, "There is merit to Vanna taking on the role — and perhaps it could work if there is a format change, and the role of letter activator is removed completely in favor of a digital tool, like something that would reveal the letter at the host’s command instead of a host touching the letters."
Another insider claimed that the producers had proposed the concept of White taking over as the host and Maggie stepping into White's old position. The 28-year-old previously substituted for White on 'Wheel of Fortune' while the 66-year-old participated in the game herself. White faced off against the hosts of 'Jeopardy!' Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik on the 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune' episode from May 10 in order to raise money for charity. Maggie, the 'Wheel's social correspondent, was getting ready at the time to turn on the letter board.
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Maggie made her television debut as a letter-turner in January 2020 while Pat was recovering from surgery and White took over as the host. As per contract, the 'Wheel of Fortune' 2023–2024 season will be hosted by Pat and White.