‘Wheel of Fortune’: Why was Vanna White missing and is it a permanent change? Here’s what we know
Pat Sajak prepares to bid farewell to his iconic role as the host of "Wheel of Fortune," fans of the long-running game show may have noticed a surprising absence in recent episodes. Vanna White, the show's beloved letter-turner, was missing from her usual spot. However, there's no need to panic, as Vanna's absence is only temporary and not indicative of a permanent change.
Why was Vanna White missing?
Vanna White missed a day of filming back in August due to her recovery from COVID-19. This absence resulted in her being unable to participate in five episodes of the show. To address Vanna's temporary departure, Pat Sajak took a moment during an episode, stating, «You'll notice Vanna is not here, and I have to say that Ms. White has tested positive for COVID. That's the bad news. The good news is I talked to her just a little while ago, and she feels fine. She has a little sniffle. But she tested positive, and that's the way it goes, so she will not be with us here this week.»
During Vanna White's absence, the show welcomed Bridgette Donald-Blue, the 2023 California Teacher of the Year recipient, to take over the letter-turning duties from October 2 to October 6. This choice was fitting, as the show was celebrating Teacher's Week. Notably, these episodes could not be rescheduled as teachers had already arrived to film them over the summer. However, later episodes originally set to film the following day (not part of Teacher's Week) were rescheduled to allow White time to recover.
Vanna White has been a consistent presence on «Wheel of Fortune,» with her absence from the show being a rare occurrence. According to TVLine, White has only missed the show three times in its long history, with her last absence dating back to
