Viewers of the popular game show “Wheel of Fortune” were surprised when longtime host Pat Sajak mysteriously left before the bonus round. Fans were left wondering what happened to Pat Sajak on Wheel of Fortune and speculated about the future of his 42-year tenure.

“Wheel of Fortune,” created by Merv Griffin, has been on air since January 1975 and is hosted by Pat Sajak and Vanna White. Sajak had hinted at a possible exit at the end of Season 40, while Vanna expressed her desire to continue hosting alongside him. Their on-screen partnership has become iconic, making it difficult for fans to imagine anyone else in their roles.

During the April 26 episode, Sajak gave up hosting duties in the bonus round, and the show’s announcer, Jim Thornton, took over as host. This unexpected change left fans speculating about Sajak’s absence, with some wondering if he was sick or had been fired. However, it became clear that this was a planned switch when contestant Sarah expressed her admiration for Jim Thornton at the beginning of the show. Jim jokingly responded to her praise, setting the stage for his unexpected hosting role later on.