For fans of the iconic game show Wheel of Fortune, Vanna White has been a familiar face since she made her debut in 1982. Her graceful presence and interaction with the famous letter-turning board have become an integral part of the show’s charm. However, it seems that viewers will have to brace themselves for a short period without her this upcoming fall.
Is Vanna White leaving Wheel of Fortune?
As the long-standing co-host, Vanna White has been diligently working on negotiating a new contract while her co-host Pat Sajak prepares to leave the show.
But now, an unexpected update has emerged regarding her role on the show for the 2023-2024 season. Reliable sources have confirmed that Vanna will be missing from the spotlight for a brief time, totaling five episodes during the upcoming season.
The reason behind her sudden absence is due to an undisclosed illness, as reported by Fox News on August 11th. Unfortunately, this ailment prevented her from participating in the filming of the show’s annual “Teacher’s Week.”
Since rescheduling the daylong taping was not feasible due to the teachers’ schedules, the producers made a swift decision. They reached out to Bridgette Donald-Blue, the esteemed 2023 California Teacher of the Year, to temporarily take on Vanna’s role during her absence.
Although falling ill is a completely understandable circumstance, this occurrence holds a significant note in Vanna’s illustrious TV career. According to KTLA, this is the first instance in thirty years where she has missed recording an episode. Furthermore, in the span of four decades since her initial appearance, Vanna has only been away from Wheel of Fortune on three other occasions.
While Vanna’s short hiatus from Wheel of Fortune might cause some disappointment among fans, the show is preparing for a momentous season ahead. As we bid farewell to Pat Sajak in his final episodes, slated to tape this summer, exciting news has surfaced.
Ryan Seacrest is set to step into the shoes of the departing co-host, taking over the role in September 2024. Alongside this hosting announcement, Deadline revealed in July that Vanna White is poised to return as the host of another season of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, with a noteworthy increase in her salary.