When asked why this time wasn’t the right time for her to step away from the game show, White said, “I love my job. “So, when I thought about it … I just wasn’t ready to retire.” I’m not sure that I’m ready to retire,'” said White, who, since 1982, has been operating the board on the show and revealing letters as they are guessed by contestants. “When Pat told me he was going to retire, it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh. Shortly after the news of his retirement, it was announced that Ryan Seacrest will replace him. He’s been the host of the game show since 1981. In June, Sajak announced that the 41st season of Wheel will be his last. But Ken and Barbie go together and always have.
“We called ourselves Ken and Barbie,” she added. White told Good Morning America, “I think of Pat as family and always will.” As Vanna White gears up for another season of Wheel of Fortune, the legendary game show hostess is reflecting on the past 41 years with Pat Sajak, who is taking his final run on the iconic show.
