Ryan Seacrest Reacts to Vanna White's 'Wheel of Fortune' Deal: 'Very Happy I'll Be Able to Work with Her'

The game show confirmed confirmed Tuesday that White had extended her contract for an additional two years

Ryan Seacrest is “very excited” that Vanna White will be joining him when he takes over the reins at Wheel of Fortune.

White’s deal, which secured the game show stable's spot on the syndication series through the 2025–26 season (and therefore beyond longtime host Pat Sajak's departure), was announced on Tuesday.

That happened to be when Seacrest, Sajak's replacement, was pre-tapping an appearance for Sunday Today With Willie Geist — meaning the NBC show got the broadcaster's first reaction.

“This is such great news,” Seacrest, 48, told Geist, 48, in the "Sunday Sitdown" segment, a sneak peek of which aired onToday Wednesday. “Vanna has been such a staple on that show and in our living rooms for so many years. I have been very excited to work with her, but now that it's official I can say, 'Congratulations Vanna! I can't wait.' ”

The American Idol host, who will begin his Wheel of Fortune duties next fall, went on to share that he thinks it’s “super important” to have White on the show.

“She's beloved by this country and by the viewers and I can't even imagine standing next to her on that set being able to say, 'Okay, let's get to it.' It's great news,” he continued. “I'm very, very happy to hear it and very happy I'll be able to work with her.”

Seacrest added that as the new guy he will also be able to ask White for her guidance and joked, “Vanna, please tell me what to do!”

“I can say, 'How does this work? Where do we go now? What's next? Okay, got it,’ ” he said.

Related: Vanna White Is in 'Negotiations' to Remain on 'Wheel of Fortune' Hosted by Ryan Seacrest (Source)

Related: Pat Sajak Is 'Looking Forward' to 'Handing Over the Car Keys' to 'Wheel of Fortune' to Ryan Seacrest

White has been on Wheel of Fortune for over 40 years, having joined the game show in 1982.

A source with knowledge of White's negotiations previously told PEOPLE that she was seeking a pay increase and pay parity with Sajak, 76, after earning approximately $3 million a year for the 18 past years without any increases.

The show's current 41st season, which kicked off last week, will be Sajak’s last. He announced in June that he would retire after the show’s 41st season and shared on X that he’d had a “wonderful ride.”

The following month, Sony Pictures Television confirmed Seacrest, 48, as Sajak's replacement and shared a statement from the star.

"I'm truly humbled to be stepping into the footsteps of the legendary Pat Sajak,” he said. “I can say, along with the rest of America, that it’s been a privilege and pure joy to watch Pat and Vanna on our television screens for an unprecedented 40 years, making us smile every night and feel right at home with them.”

"Pat, I love the way you’ve always celebrated the contestants and made viewers at home feel at ease. I look forward to learning everything I can from you during this transition."

He continued, "Many people probably don’t know this but one of my first jobs was hosting a little game show called Click for Merv Griffin 25 years ago so this is truly a full circle moment for me and I’m grateful to Sony for the opportunity. I can’t wait to continue the tradition of spinning the wheel and working alongside the great Vanna White."

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Back in December, White told PEOPLE in December she wasn’t ready to leave Wheel of Fortune behind.

"I don't even want to think about that," she said, adding that it was hard to imagine a world where neither herself nor Sajak is hosting the series.

Wheel of Fortune airs weeknights in syndication (check local listings).

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