Given how long Sajak and White have worked together, many viewers have wondered over the years whether or not the pair was ever romantically involved. It’s a question that White finally answered. Here’s a brief history of the hosts’ time on the show and their unique relationship.
Joining ‘Wheel of Fortune’
Pat Sajak joined Wheel of Fortune in December of 1981. A year later, Vanna White was also made part of the cast. She made it to the final round of casting over more than 200 other women who hoped to become the future letter flipper. Ultimately, White won out over Summer Bartholomew and Vicki McCarty, the other top choices for the role of hostess.
After testing each of the women on real episodes of the show, the producer decided that White was the one who activated the letters best of all the candidates. She quickly became very popular among viewers, particularly young adults. Many of her fans were interested in her dazzling show wardrobe. The phenomenon, known as “Vannamania,” swept through the United States, earning the new star numerous additional jobs outside of Wheel of Fortune.
Nearly 40 years together
For the next 40 years, White and Sajak would work intimately together as host and hostess of Wheel of Fortune. While they generally stuck to the same roles throughout this time, there were a few instances where they would swap, most notably in November 1996 when Sajak had laryngitis.
Despite their many years together, in 2020 Sajak admitted that he initially didn’t want White to be cast as the hostess. He said, “Not that she wasn’t lovely and wonderful and personable and all that. But she was the most nervous, by far, of any of them.”
White obviously proved him wrong and has done a wonderful job. It helped that the pair seems to have such incredible chemistry together. It’s this very chemistry which has caused many fans to question just what kind of relationship White and Sajak had outside of filming.
Friends or more?
It is well known that White and Sajak get along well – extremely well, in fact. According to White herself, they rarely disagree on anything except whether ketchup should be put on a hot dog. Yet despite their closeness, White has emphasized that they really are just best friends and there is nothing romantic going on between them. The closest the two have come to being involved was when they played a prank on their audience.
“Years and years ago, we did an April Fool’s joke,” White recalled. “I don’t know that we said we were married, but we said something about being together, and we received toasters…” Sajak added later that it took years for people to stop sending the “married couple” Crockpots.
So although the renowned Wheel of Fortune stars have been together, in a work sense, for longer than most couples, they are not, and have never been, in a romantic relationship.
Nearly 20 years without a raise?
Soon after Sajak announced his retirement, fans were stunned to learn that Vanna White has not gotten a pay raise in 18 years. This surprising revelation comes from Puck reporter Matthew Belloni, who says that White, 66, has hired an aggressive lawyer to negotiate a raise as her current deal concludes at the end of the 2023-24 season.
Puck’s report states that White currently earns $3 million annually, while Sajak earns five times more than that. While some argue that Sajak is the host while White is a co-host responsible only for revealing letters on the board, Puck asserts that White engages in significantly more publicity for the show than Sajak. Sony, the show’s production company, declined to comment on Puck’s findings.
Whoopi Goldberg from The View expressed interest in taking over Sajak’s role, and several other notable names, including Ryan Seacrest and Sajak’s daughter Maggie, were mentioned as potential candidates.
Seacrest was named the new host of ‘Wheel’
The New York Times and other media outlets reported on June 27 that Ryan Seacrest will take over as the host of Wheel of Fortune. The news comes just two weeks after Sajak’s announcement. Seacrest, 48, is a talk show veteran himself, having hosted and produced many other programs including American Idol and Live with Kelly and Ryan.
“I’m truly humbled to be stepping into the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak,” Seacrest said in a statement. “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.”
Seacrest will also act as a consulting producer on the show.
40-Yеаr-Оld Rоsе Наnbury, Рrinсе Williаm’s Аllеgеd Mistrеss, Наs Finаlly Вrоkеn Неr Silеnсе То Аddrеss Тhе Rumоrs
What a time to be a royal fanatic…
Throughout history, there have been countless well-publicized royal scandals. At various times, the British monarchy’s ongoings have dominated media headlines and sent the people into a frenzy.
Undoubtedly, the current situation is one of the most alluring. In addition to capturing the public’s attention since January with the story of Kate Middleton’s miraculous recovery from an unexplained abdominal operation, King Charles was also sh.ocked when he discovered he had cancer. Not to mention the ongoing scandal surrounding Meghan Markle and Prince Harry
In most other decades, the media’s main focus would have been on the reigning monarch’s battle with cancer. Thus, it says volumes that all other subjects have been essentially driven into the background by the whirlwind of rumors surrounding Kate.
One could claim that the royal family is solely to blame for the extraordinary attention paid to Kate’s recuperation. Apart from stating in January that the Princess of Wales was having a “planned abdominal procedure” and that she wouldn’t be able to return to work until after Easter, the Palace has been so frugal with its updates that they have provoked suspicion.
The public is still unaware of the exact condition Kate was experiencing that necessitated surgery. The fact that Kate hadn’t been seen since Christmas until last week added to the confusion.
With if the lack of hard data had heated up conjecture to the breaking point, the scandal surrounding the picture of Kate with her kids that was made public in the UK on Mother’s Day shook things up so much that conspiracy theories gained attention from people all over the world.
One of the most widely discussed theories was that Kate and Prince William were going through marital problems, which had forced Kate to step back from the spotlight until a resolution could be reached.
We wouldn’t be doing our jobs properly at this time if we didn’t emphasize that there is still no solid evidence to support any and all rumors that William and Kate’s romance is in trouble. Nevertheless, the subject has drawn enough interest from the public to prove that they are, at the very least, quite curious.
The central issue behind the alleged marital discord between William and Kate is the suspicion that William had an affair with Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley.
Rose and her spouse, David Rocksavage, the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley, are said to have been part of William and Kate’s social circle for a while. Once upon a time, the always trustworthy Sun newspaper attempted to dispel rumors that Kate and Rose were having a falling out, which led to a considerable number of people believing Rose and William’s affair was the reason.
And it appears that the scandal is still blazing, even after The Sun revealed the aforementioned details around five years ago.
Amidst the media frenzy to discover Kate Middleton’s whereabouts last week, numerous pieces were written on Rose. Some news sites even faced accusations of “soft-launching” the Marchioness to set the stage for when her rumored affair with William became public knowledge.
Naturally, the ludicrous rumors seem to be exactly that—ludicrous. Nevertheless, Rose Hanbury was troubled enough to come out of her silence and assertively refute the existence of any affair.
Business Insider reportedly contacted Rose’s attorneys this past weekend to request a statement. “The rumors are completely false,” was the response they received.
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