Vanna White was ‘very scared’ about her ‘Wheel of Fortune’ chemistry with Ryan Seacrest
Vanna White initially feared having Ryan Seacrest as the new host of “Wheel of Fortune.”
During this weekend’s episode of CBS Sunday Morning, White, 67, addressed her working relationship with Seacrest, 49, after taping her first episodes of the game show without longtime host Pat Sajak, 77.
“I’ve known Ryan for probably 20 years,” said White. “But in the past couple of months, we’ve done some traveling together for the show, and we got to know each other a little better, too.”
“So, I think our chemistry is good,” she added.
When asked if she was “nervous” about her and Seacrest’s chemistry, the beloved letter-turner replied, “I had no idea what to expect, when I’m used to one person for so long.”
“I was very scared,” she admitted, “but he’s doing a great job.”
White has been on “Wheel of Fortune” since 1982. Last year, Sajak, 77, announced he was retiring from the show after 41 seasons.
After Seacrest was announced as the new host, there were rumors that he and White weren’t seeing eye to eye.
“She just doesn’t jibe with Ryan like she did with Pat, and no one really ever expected her to,” a source claimed about White to the Daily Mail. “There is just no way that she possibly could.”
However, an insider close to Seacrest told The Post, “There is absolutely no truth to this story. Ryan and Vanna have started working together and have been having a lovely time on set.”
White later brushed off the feud allegations by sharing a photo of her and Seacrest out to dinner together in July.
“Friends on and off camera,” she wrote in her caption.
Seacrest had his first day on the set of the game show in July. According to CBS Sunday Morning, the “American Idol” host “seemed comfortable” in his new TV job.
“This is such an incredible, special franchise,” he told the morning news show about “Wheel of Fortune.”
“It’s more than a TV show,” Seacrest added. “It is something that means something to people. And when I found out that this was an opportunity for me, there’s no thought to this. It was like, ‘Absolutely. Let’s figure it out, and let’s get started.’ “
White previously told TV Insider that she thought about retiring after Sajak announced his exit from the show, but she ended up signing a contract extension to stay on the program through the 2025-2026 season.
While discussing losing her longtime TV partner, White said, “I can’t describe how I feel. I feel happy for him. 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.”
“Wheel of Fortune” Season 42 premieres Sept. 9.
