Vanna White has opened up about her concerns regarding working with Ryan Seacrest on Wheel of Fortune.
On September 1, the 67-year-old longtime game show host shared her reservations about returning to Wheel of Fortune after Pat Sajak’s departure and working with Seacrest for the first time.
Though White has known Seacrest for “probably 20 years,” she told CBS Sunday Morning that they’ve recently “gotten to know each other a little better” while traveling together for the show.
“I think our chemistry is good,” White said. “I had no idea what to expect after being used to working with one person for so long. I was very scared, but he’s doing a great job.”
Earlier this month, White exclusively told how her relationship with Seacrest has developed since he stepped into his new role. Although it was difficult to imagine anyone replacing Sajak, White admitted she thought “Ryan was a great choice.”
“He’s professional, he’s kind, he’s hard-working. We’ve known each other for 20 years, so I think he’s a good fit,” she said, reflecting on how the two first crossed paths.
Interestingly, White and Seacrest’s partnership seems almost fated.
“Oddly enough, Merv Griffin, the creator of Wheel of Fortune, who chose me — God bless you, Merv — also discovered Ryan Seacrest,” she recalled. “We actually sat next to each other at Merv’s funeral. That’s where we met.”
On June 12, Sajak announced his departure from Wheel of Fortune after co-hosting the show with White for 41 seasons.
“Well, the time has come. I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last,” he wrote in a statement shared on X (formerly 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!)”
Later that month, Sony announced that Seacrest would be taking over Sajak’s role, having signed a multi-year deal to host the iconic game show.
Seacrest expressed his gratitude in a statement, saying, “I’m truly humbled to be stepping into the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak.
I can say, along with the rest of America, that it’s been a privilege and pure joy to watch Pat and Vanna on our television screens for an unprecedented 40 years, making us smile every night and feel right at home with them.”
He added, “Pat, I love the way you’ve always celebrated the contestants and made viewers at home feel at ease.
I look forward to learning everything I can from you during this transition… I can’t wait to continue the tradition of spinning the wheel and working alongside the great Vanna White.”
