'Wheel of Fortune' Host Pat Sajak Makes First Comments Since Announcing His Retirement & Reveals What's Next For Him

Pat Sajak has made his first comments since announcing his retirement from Wheel of Fortune.

The 76-year-old has been the host of the popular game show, alongside Vanna White, for 40 years, and revealed earlier in the week that after the upcoming 41st season, he’d be stepping away from hosting duties.

In a new interview, Pat opened up about departing the show and just what will come next.

Keep reading to find out more…

Speaking with KHON, a local Hawaiian newspaper, Pat got real about his expectations when retirement comes.

“I’m realistic enough to know the people aren’t gonna be banging my door down,” he shared. “But I’ll take projects if they come.”

Pat then added that he suspects “most of my time will be whittling on the front porch, but I don’t know how to whittle and I don’t have a front porch so that’ll be a challenge.”

He then got candid about how he reached the decision to retire from the show.

“It’s a celebratory mixed with melancholy,” he said. “I’ve been thinking about this for a long time. I’ve known that this was coming and I talked about it with good friends and Joe [Moore, his friend for 40 years] and my family.”

Pat added that he’s “had time to get used to the idea. It’s not like I woke up the other day and said you know it’s over. So there’s that. But it’s mixed emotions sure.”

Find out who fans think will take over Pat‘s hosting job on Wheel of Fortune.