Ryan Seacrest has been in the spotlight for years but even he gets stage fright, and Seacrest is ready for those nerves to hit hard hosting Wheel of Fortune in place of Pat Sajak. This is, in part, exacerbated by the fact that Seacrest admits he’s not so great at a key component of the game.
Seacrest is at the center of some big changes on television in recent months; he stepped away from Live! opposite Kelly Ripa back in April, and in June, Sony named him the new Wheel of Fortune host for when series regular Sajak leaves. But there’s just one problem – he’s got the jitters and says he’s not great at spelling.
Ryan Seacrest opens up about nerves in the face of replacing Pat Sajak
Seacrest has been building a name for himself for three decades now, but even with credits such as American Idol and his very own On Air with Ryan Seacrest under his belt, Seacrest feels the gravity of his impending work on Wheel of Fortune.
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“I’m sure I will get nervous jitters,” Seacrest said, speaking with PEOPLE. “The show has been a staple for people and myself and my family forever. And so you just want to walk out there and do what’s been happening for so many years and not screw it up.”
Spelling out a hopeful future
But things aren’t all fear and stress, however. As Seacrest said, Wheel of Fortune has been a part of his life for ages; he is, right along with the audience, a fan. So there is definitely abundant excitement.
“I can’t believe that it’s going to be real,” he admitted. “But I’m super excited. I don’t remember when I felt this much excitement and enthusiasm for something.”
There is one issue, though, that excitement can’t quite fix. Seacrest teasingly said, “Actually, I’m a terrible speller.” Although, he assures fans of the 40-year-old program, “on the show I’m better than on my cell phone when I type or text.”
The torch officially passes from Sajak to Seacrest in the fall of 2024, by which point Sajak will have completed his final season since starting in ’83. Though, Sajak won’t be completely gone, as it is reported by PEOPLE he will stay on for three more years in the background as a consultant.
Are you excited to see this new face run the show on Wheel of Fortune?
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