Christmas came early for “Wheel of Fortune” viewers who missed Pat Sajak.
Six months after retiring as host, Sajak, 78, returned to his old job for a special holiday episode of “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” that aired Monday.
“Apparently I’m back on TV tonight. I guess I’d better shave and shower. @celebritywof @ABCNetwork,” Sajak wrote on X (formerly Twitter) before the episode.
He reunited with longtime letter-turner Vanna White, who has been working side-by-side with new host Ryan Seacrest since Sajak’s departure.
Sajak and White, 67, walked out on stage together for the first time since June in a behind-the-scenes clip shared by the show’s social media correspondent and Sajak’s daughter, Maggie Sajak.
“It’s showtime!!!👏,” Maggie captioned the video.
Lil Jon, Dionne Warwick and Chance the Rapper were the celebrity contestants who competed on Monday’s episode.
Chance, 31, won the game and took home $63,800 for his charity, SocialWorks.
Lil Jon, 53, and Warwick, 83, each earned $30,000 for their respective charities, Open Paths Counseling Center and North Jersey Community Research Initiative.
“WOF” fans replied to Sajak’s tweet with thrilled reactions to his big return.
“Im so glad your back tonight pat i missed you on wheel i wish you came back and hosted regular wheel as well it doesnt feel the same with Ryan Seacrest hosting it,” one fan wrote.
Another said, “Welcome back sir! You gave us a holiday present for viewers tonight.”
“Awesome! Looking forward to it! Wheel of Fortune isn’t the same without you!” a third viewer replied.
Someone else tweeted, “‘This was so much fun tonight. I like Ryan but thrilled to see Pat back & great guests. Lil John was very fun & Dionne is a legend & Chance was an absolute delight.”
Sajak pre-recorded the “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” holiday episode, as well as several others that will air in 2025.
Season 5 of the game show was set to premiere in October, but ABC pushed it to the new year to make room for “Monday Night Football.”
Sajak bade farewell to “Wheel of Fortune” on June 7 after hosting contestants for more than 8,000 episodes across 41 seasons.
“Well, the time has come to say goodbye,” Sajak said on-air during his final episode.
“It’s been an incredible privilege to be invited into millions of homes night after night, year after year, decade after decade,” Sajak continued, adding that he was proud of making the show “a safe place for family fun. No social issues, no politics, nothing embarrassing, I hope. Just a game.”
Sajak was replaced by Seacrest, 49, who began his new gig as host on Sep. 9.
Seacrest didn’t mention Sajak when he opened the episode, although he did refer to having big shoes to fill.
