Ryan Seacrest Expects ‘Jitters’ Hosting ‘Wheel of Fortune’ — and Admits He’s a ‘Terrible Speller’ (Exclusive)

Ryan Seacrest gets his face for his Wheel of Fortune hosting debut.

The American Idol The host revealed to PEOPLE at the opening of his newest Seacrest Studio at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New York that despite his years in the spotlight, he’s not immune to anxiety when it comes to stepping into the role of TV legend Pat Sajak on the long-running show.

“I’m sure I’m going to get nervous,” Seacrest, 48, told PEOPLE. “The series has always been a staple for people, me and my family. And so you just want to go out there and do what’s been going on for so many years and not screw it up.”

Ryan Seacrest will replace Pat Sajak as the new host of ‘Wheel of Fortune’: ‘I’m really humbled’

He also admitted that one of the fundamental elements of the game show is surprisingly a kind of Achilles’ heel for him.

“Actually, I’m a terrible speller,” he admitted (his mother, on the other hand, “thinks he’s a great speller,” he jokes).

Seacrest qualifies: “But I’m better on the show than I am on my cell phone when I’m typing or texting.”

Fortunately, they will be able to have Wheel of Fortune veteran Vanna White is there to support him with letters, as she has reached an agreement with the series to extend her contract for two additional years.

“Vanna was the main character in that show and in our living rooms for so many years. I was really excited to work with her, but now that it’s official I can say, ‘Congratulations Vanna! I can’t wait,’ he continued Sunday Today with Willie Geist.

Ryan Seacrest reacts to Vanna White’s contract for ‘Wheel of Fortune’: ‘I’m very happy to be able to work with her’

Seacrest shared that he is currently in “unofficial preparations” for his Wheel of Fortune debut and even started looking at him “differently” now that he knows he’ll be taking over the reins after Sajak’s retirement at the end of the 41 season.

“I can’t believe it’s going to be real. But I’m very excited,” Seacrest told PEOPLE. “I don’t remember when I felt this much excitement and enthusiasm for something.”

Northwell Health Studios/Ryan Seacrest Foundation

Apart from preparing to host, the TV and radio personality juggles a number of different projects including hosting his own radio show On Air with Ryan Seacrest and engages in philanthropy through his Ryan Seacrest Foundation, which opened its 13th Seacrest Studio broadcast location on Tuesday.

“I just wanted to do something tangible,” Seacrest told PEOPLE about the project. “I wanted to see, feel and touch something that I was behind and a part of, and I spent a lot of time in these kinds of studios. I know that every time I’m in one, I forget about everything that’s going on in my life and that’s the idea and the hope here.”

The new state-of-the-art studio will allow educational content from celebrity guests, live music, patient-created shows, music therapy and more to be broadcast in the hospital’s children’s rooms, with the hope that pediatric patients can participate or get involved.

Northwell Health Studios/Ryan Seacrest Foundation

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The ultimate goal, Seacrest said, is to connect all Seacrest studios at children’s hospitals across the U.S. so all children can interact with content from different locations.

“A few weeks ago, Ed Sheeran was in Colorado. All studios can watch, ask questions and be part of the event. So, after we continue to build what 13, 14, 15 [Seacrest Studios]we want to unify event programming,” he said.

Next Seacrest Studios will appear at Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education