Vanna White has opened up about some of the concerns she had after her longtime Wheel of Fortune cohost Pat Sajak announced his retirement and was replaced by Ryan Seacrest. Pat and Vanna worked together for more than 40 years. In a recent interview with CBS Sunday Morning, Vanna admitted that she was "scared" about hosting with Ryan Seacrest after working with Pat for so long. She explained that she has known Ryan for a long time as well, and they've gotten to know each other "a little better" over the past several months.
"I've known Ryan for probably 20 years," Vanna told CBS Sunday Morning. "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."
Shortly after Vanna and Ryan began filming together, rumors began circulating about their alleged lack of chemistry.
The Daily Mail previously reported that a source said Vanna found that working on Wheel of Fortune was "just so difficult to do … without Pat."
Life & Style also reported that Vanna and Ryan "have zero chemistry," citing "sources." An "insider" reportedly told the outlet that Ryan had a different vision for the show, which involved making "the show younger and sexier."
But Vanna has seemingly dismissed these rumors. On July 9, 2024, she shared a photo with Ryan on Instagram and captioned it with, "Friends on and off camera. Enjoying one of our favorites, Chicken and Dumplings!"
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In the recent interview with CBS Sunday Morning, Vanna also seemed to address the rumors. "I think our chemistry is good," she told the outlet.
Vanna was also honest about how she felt in the beginning. When asked about working with someone new, she admitted that she was nervous and didn't know what to expect.
"I had no idea what to expect when I'm used to one person for so long," Vanna said. "I was very scared, but he's doing a great job."
When Ryan announced that he'd be replacing Pat on the show, he said he couldn't "wait to continue the tradition of spinning the wheel and working alongside the great Vanna White."
"I'm truly humbled to be stepping into the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak," he wrote on Instagram at the time. "I can say, along with the rest of America, that it's been a privilege and pure joy to watch Pat and Vanna on our television screens for an unprecedented 40 years, making us smile every night and feel right at home with them."
Season 42 of Wheel of Fortune is set to premiere on September 9.
