Ryan Seacrest Admits Feeling ‘Tremendous’ Pressure Taking Over ‘Wheel of Fortune’

As the 42nd season of “Wheel of Fortune” comes to a close on June 6, 2025, it will mark the end of Ryan Seacrest’s first season as host of the beloved game show. The longtime “American Idol” host took over for Pat Sajak in September, but the transition was far from easy.

In an interview with Los Angeles station ABC7 on June 3, Seacrest admitted that he felt a “tremendous amount of pressure” taking over the iconic show and still doesn’t feel fully comfortable after taping 195 episodes.

Ryan Seacrest Says He’s Thrilled Fans Have Continued to Watch ‘Wheel of Fortune’

“Wheel of Fortune” legend Vanna White told ABC7 that the transition from co-starring with Sajak to Seacrest has been “seamless” and that he “makes it look easy.”

But Seacrest said uneasily, “Most of the time. I still have to remember what I’m doing out there.”

“Let me be honest,” he told the outlet. “There was a tremendous amount of pressure that I felt coming into this. It’s been built with Pat and Vanna for so many years, I just wanted people to feel comfortable and watch, and if we got a few more along the way, then bonus round, right? I’m thrilled that the loyal audience has accepted what we get to do together.”

Seacrest’s debut on the show was a slam dunk, according to Variety, which reported that it was “most-watched entertainment series in September across broadcast, cable and syndication.” By January, the Los Angeles Times had called Seacrest “ratings gold” on the game show. In March, “WOF” moved to second place behind “Jeopardy,” according to the U.S. Sun, but was still bringing in even more viewers than it did in September.

Ryan Seacrest Says Sometimes He & Vanna White Can ‘Read Each Others’ Minds’

Among Seacrest’s fans is White, who told ABC7, “This whole season, I have been smiling from day one. He’s so easy to work with. He’s fun. He’s easygoing and he makes my job easy. You come to work and you make people happy. What could be better?”

Seacrest also acknowledged that he’s relieved he and White are comfortable enough with each other that they can ad-lib during the show, telling the outlet, “”We don’t often know what we’re going to say at the end of the show. It’s 3-2-1 go! For me, that makes it fun and I think we get genuine laughter out of each other. We got to this stage, where at times we can read each other’s minds.”

In April, White told TV Insider that she felt Seacrest came into the show with the best attitude, knowing he could never truly replace Sajak.

“Ryan did his homework,” White she said. “He rehearsed and rehearsed and rehearsed. He also said to me, ‘I am not replacing Pat Sajak because no one could – ever. I am just stepping in.’ That made me feel good because, as Ryan said, he’s just stepping in – he’s not trying to prove anything.”

Seacrest and White will both return for season 43 of “Wheel of Fortune,” likely to start filming this summer. And although his return is not official, Seacrest is expected to host his 24th season of “American Idol” in early 2026.