After 41 years and over 8,000 episodes, final turn as the renowned host of 含羞草研究社淲heel of Fortune含羞草研究社� will air on Friday.

In a farewell message released ahead of Friday含羞草研究社檚 episode airing, Sajak thanked the viewers of the beloved game show for granting him the 含羞草研究社渋ncredible privilege to be invited into millions of homes, night after night, year after year, decade after decade.含羞草研究社�

He noted that he always found it important to keep the daily half-hour show a 含羞草研究社渟afe place for family fun,含羞草研究社� excluding any social issues or political topics from the banter he shared with contestants and his co-host and letter turner, Vanna White. He said he wanted to keep the show 含羞草研究社渏ust a game,含羞草研究社� before noting that to many, it became a part of their daily lives.

含羞草研究社淕radually, it became more than that,含羞草研究社� Sajak continued. 含羞草研究社淎 place where kids learned their letters, where people from other countries honed their English skills, where families came together along with friends and neighbors and entire generations. What an honor to have played even a small part in all that.含羞草研究社�

to her partner on Thursday含羞草研究社檚 episode, calling him 含羞草研究社渓ike a brother含羞草研究社� and a 含羞草研究社渢rue lifelong friend.含羞草研究社� In the pre-recorded video that featured clips and photos of their 41 years as co-workers, she added that their personal friendship has meant even more than their professional collaboration.

Sajak announced in June 2023 that he would at the end of the show含羞草研究社檚 41st season, with . White will stay on as Seacrest含羞草研究社檚 co-host through the 2025-2026 season, based on a she signed in September.

In a recent interview for with Sajak含羞草研究社檚 daughter Maggie, who serves as the show含羞草研究社檚 social correspondent, the host said he felt 含羞草研究社渟urprisingly OK含羞草研究社� given that he announced his retirement almost a year before his final show.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檝e had time to sort of get used to it and it含羞草研究社檚 been a little bit wistful and all that, but I含羞草研究社檓 enjoying it and taking it all in and reflecting on a great run,含羞草研究社� he said.

Looking back on his time with the popular game show, Sajak said he is grateful for how audiences across the country connected with the show and made it a part of their daily routines.

含羞草研究社淪omewhere along the line, we became more than a popular show. We became a part of popular culture, and more importantly, we became a part of people含羞草研究社檚 lives,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淭hat含羞草研究社檚 been awfully gratifying.含羞草研究社�

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