Pat Sajak to return to Wheel of Fortune despite leaving role with Ryan Seacrest debut near

Pat Sajak is set to return to Wheel of Fortune as host one final time after retiring from the game show that he fronted for 41 years.

Wheel Of Fortune: Pat Sajak hands the reigns to Ryan Seacrest

Fans expressed confusion in the comments section about the Chicago native’s upcoming appearance, given his recent retirement.

One fan queried: “I thought he was done with Wheel.”

Another replied: “Think this was filmed before his final episode.”

While the exact filming timeline remains unclear, it will indeed be Pat’s final hosting gig.

This news coincides with Ryan Seacrest preparing to make his debut as the new host of Wheel of Fortune.

Season 42 is slated to premiere next Monday. Ryan was announced as Pat’s successor in June 2023, following Pat’s retirement announcement the same month.

The host announced that the 41st season would be his last, describing it as a “wonderful ride.”

He bid farewell to the puzzle game show after more than four decades on Friday, June 7, which marked the end of season 41.

The episode, themed “Thanks for the memories” attracted 11.03 million viewers.

According to Nielsen data reported by The Wrap, this episode had the highest household rating of any broadcast in the week it aired.

Addressing the audience, he said: “The time has come to say goodbye. I have a few thanks and acknowledgments before I go. And I want to start with all of you watching out there,” he began.

“It’s been an incredible privilege to be invited into millions of homes, night after night, decade after decade. And I always felt that the privilege came with the responsibility to keep this daily half-hour a safe place for family fun.

“No social issues. No politics. Nothing embarrassing, I hope. Just a game. But gradually it became more than that,” he continued.