New Wheel of Fortune host Ryan Seacrest says he’s overjoyed that longtime letter carrier Vanna White has renewed her contract on the popular game show – after reportedly negotiating an incredible raise.
On Tuesday, it was announced that Vanna, 66, had signed up to continue the program for another two years. TMZ claimed that bosses had agreed to give her a “significant” increase in her annual salary of $3 million after 18 years of the same salary.
And according to Ryan, 48, who is set to replace outgoing host Pat Sajak, 76, on the show in fall 2024, no one is more excited about the news than him.
“This is great news,” he gushed during an interview with the Today show. “Vanna has been a staple on this show and in our living rooms for so many years.”
New Wheel of Fortune host Ryan Seacrest has expressed his delight that Vanna White has renewed her contract on the game show
Vanna has signed up to continue participating in the program for two years
“I was really looking forward to working with her, but now that it’s official I can say, ‘Congratulations, Vanna.’ I can’t wait.”
American Idol host Ryan believes Vanna is a major factor in the success of Wheel of Fortune.
“It’s super important to have Vanna White on Wheel of Fortune,” he continued. “She’s loved by this country and by audiences and I can’t even imagine standing next to her on set and saying, ‘Okay, let’s get started.’
“That’s great news.” “I’m really happy to hear that and really happy to be able to work with her.”
He also hopes that Vanna can help him and show him the location of the Wheel of Fortune studio.
Last month, it was revealed that there had been some “hiccups” between Vanna and the show’s producers during her contract negotiations.
“They both know they have a lot of time to do this and have more discussions to have, but each wants something accomplished and doesn’t want Pat’s final year to be marred by the constant news of the ever-repeating contract dispute drama,” said an insider told DailyMail. com.
“They want to celebrate this year with little to no drama.”
Bosses reportedly agreed to a “significant” increase in her annual salary of $3 million after she was paid the same wage for 18 years
According to sources, there were some “hiccups” during contract negotiations between Vanna and the show’s producers.
Ryan is expected to replace outgoing host Pat Sajak on Wheel of Fortune in fall 2024
The source added that there were some issues that led to a slight stalemate in negotiations as this could be Vanna’s last Wheel of Fortune contract.
“Wheel wants to make the transition between Pat and Ryan seamless and having Vanna along would be wonderful to make that all possible,” the insider continued.
“However, they want their next contract to be their last contract so that they have a little more flexibility to change things when they look for their replacement in a few years.”
They explained that Vanna still stuck to her demand for a bigger payday, adding, “Vanna is actually fine with it, she just wants a huge payday, which the show can’t even consider at this point.”
Pat, who has appeared on the game show since 1983, announced his retirement earlier this year
“It depends on who will give in first, but neither of them blinks yet. “Vanna wants to go out on her terms and retire when she’s ready to call it a day with a nice paycheck.”
Ryan announced he had been named the new “Wheel of Fortune” host in June in a post shared to Instagram in which he said he was “truly honored to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak.” to be allowed”.
“I can say like the rest of America that it was a privilege and a pure joy to watch Pat and Vanna on our television screens for 40 years, making us smile every night and making us feel like we were at home with them be,” he said.
“Pat, I love the way you always celebrated the contestants and made the viewers at home feel comfortable,” Ryan added. “I look forward to learning all I can from you during this transition.”
Pat appeared to give Ryan his blessing that same month when he wrote on Twitter, “Looking forward to my final season starting this fall and then handing over the car keys to Ryan Seacrest in September 2024.”
Ryan is one of the biggest media personalities in the US and has hosted American Idol and On Air With Ryan Seacrest as well as Live With Kelly And Ryan.
In 2006, he became co-host and executive producer of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.
“Wheel of Fortune” has been broadcast continuously since January 1975 – Pat’s predecessor, Chuck Woolery, served as host from the beginning until 1981, with Pat taking over as host in 1983.