‘The time has come’: Pat Sajak announces retirement as longtime host of Wheel of Fortune

It’s the end of an era. Long-time Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak, 76, has announced his retirement on Monday, saying: “The time has come.”

Sajak, a former Los Angeles weatherman, took to Twitter to share the news.

“Well, the time has come. I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last,” he tweeted. “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!)”

Suzanne Prete, the executive vice president of game shows for Sony Pictures Television, commented on Sajak’s retirement and said that he “has agreed to continue as a consultant on the show for three years following his last year hosting.”

“As the host of Wheel of Fortune, Pat has entertained millions of viewers across America for 40 amazing years. We are incredibly grateful and proud to have had Pat as our host for all these years and we look forward to celebrating his outstanding career throughout the upcoming season,” she said in a statement, adding: “We’re thrilled to have him remaining close to the Wheel of Fortune family!’

Sajak hosted a daytime edition of the game show on NBC from 1981 to 1989 — the daytime show was canceled in 1991. He began hosting the syndicated evening version of Wheel of Fortune with Vanna White in 1983.

He won three Daytime Emmys after being nominated 22 times, and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011 for hosting the beloved game show.

The official Wheel of Fortune Twitter account responded to the news by calling Sajak the “best” in the business: “Thank you to the best host in the biz. Wheel of Fortune would not be what it is today without you, Pat. Looking forward to Season 41 being better than ever!”

Here’s a quick sampling of responses to the story from Twitter:

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