Maggie Sajak to take another turn at the puzzle board as Vanna White needs to be replaced for specials

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“Wheel of Fortune” is getting ready to welcome several familiar faces to spin the famous wheel.

Co-host and queen of the puzzle board Vanna White will join Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings, hosts of sister syndicated game show “Jeopardy!” on “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at 8 p.m. on ABC.

This primetime network special is part of a series the show has been airing on ABC for the past two seasons.

Each game replaces the everyday contestants with three celebrities who play against each other for charity.

The daily versions of “Jeopardy!” and “Wheel” are owned by Sony, which syndicates it nationwide via CBS Media Ventures. Sony also has a separate deal with ABC to produce primetime special versions of both shows, including celebrity editions. “Jeopardy!” has also produced a series of special tournaments for ABC.

ABC owns the syndication rights to one or both shows in many major markets. Sony likely could have opted to sell primetime specials to any interested network, but the game shows and ABC have a long-running history. It also means that a good deal of the U.S. population will see the primetime specials on the same channel as the daily versions of the shows, reducing any confusion about where to watch for viewers in those areas.

With White as a contestant, she won’t be available to reveal letters at the puzzle board, so co-host Pat Sajak’s daughter, Maggie Sajak, who also serves as the show’s social media correspondent while attending law school and pursuing a singing career, will take her place.

Maggie previously appeared at the puzzle board after her father was forced to miss tapings due to a medical issue in 2019. During those shows, White stepped into Pat’s place while Maggie took over as lady of the letters.