Vanna White Reveals How Pat Sajak Comforted Her on First Day of 'Wheel,' Shares How Long She Plans to Stay On Show After He Retires
Vanna White is opening up about the beginning of her career on Wheel of Fortune and the possible end.
The 67-year-old staple on the game show, where she has served as co-host alongside Pat Sajak since 1982.
While Pat is set to retire this year, with his final episode coming up soon, Vanna is remaining for a couple more years, at least.
In a new interview, Vanna opened up about her first day on the job and how long she plans to stay on the show.
Keep reading to find out more…
“I remember being extremely nervous. It was hard for me to even talk. My mouth was just shaking out of nerves because it was, ‘I can’t believe this is happening. I’m on a TV show,’” Vanna told TV Insider.
When asked what got her through it, Vanna replied that it was Pat.
“[He said,] ‘Calm down, it’s going to be OK.’ I was just a little old girl from North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, wanting to be on TV from the time I was 10. He made me feel comfortable in front of a camera. He was my teacher,” she said.
On his retirement, Vanna says she can’t describe how she feels.
“I feel happy for him,” she shares. “I can’t imagine doing the show without him after 41 years. I sum it up as [like] reading a good book. It always has to end. This has been the best book I’ve ever read.”
While Vanna is signed on for Wheel for a couple more years, she says she’s not sure how long she plans to stick around.
“I don’t know. When I heard that Pat was retiring, I thought maybe I should retire too. But I’m not ready!” Vanna said. “We’ll see toward the end of those two years how I feel. I thank God after all these years that I still love my job.”
If you missed it, find out who will be replacing Pat Sajak as the host of Wheel of Fortune!