For the first time since 2011, Wheel of Fortune will open a new season without Jim Thornton's voice. On Friday, September 4, Sony Pictures Television confirmed that Thornton's employment with the show has ended. The studio's statement was brief: "Following a thorough investigation, Jim Thornton's employment with Wheel of Fortune has been terminated, effective immediately."

The announcement came only days after the show said Thornton had been suspended, and just ten days before Season 44 premieres on Monday, September 14. Sony has not publicly detailed what the investigation involved, and Thornton's representatives have not issued a full statement. We are still awaiting details, and we will update this story as reliable information becomes available. For now, here is what has been confirmed and what it means for viewers.

What Sony Has Confirmed

  • Thornton was suspended earlier in the week of August 31, with producers saying at the time that he would be recast.
  • On September 4, Sony confirmed the termination "following a thorough investigation."
  • Season 44 episodes that had already been taped with Thornton have been re-voiced by an interim announcer, so his voice will not be heard when new episodes begin airing.
  • No permanent replacement has been named.

That is the extent of the official word. Anything beyond it is reporting from entertainment outlets that Sony has not confirmed, so we are not repeating it here.

What It Means for the Season 44 Premiere

The short answer: very little changes on screen. Ryan Seacrest returns for his third season as host, Vanna White is back at the puzzle board, and the show has already been renewed through Season 45. The premiere date holds at September 14, and episodes continue to stream next day on Hulu and Peacock.

The bigger on-air change this fall has nothing to do with the announcer. Season 44 introduces the Toss-Up Sprint, a 30-second opening round in which all three contestants race through as many toss-up puzzles as they can, at $1,000 apiece, with only one guess per puzzle. It replaces the two toss-ups that traditionally opened the game. We break down the new rules, along with every other fall premiere, in our Fall 2026 game show premiere guide.

Sharp-eared fans may notice a different voice on the prize copy and the opening, and possibly some slightly different pacing in the first few weeks as the interim announcer settles in. That is the only visible fingerprint of the change.

Who Is Jim Thornton?

Thornton, a veteran Los Angeles broadcaster, became the announcer of Wheel of Fortune in 2011, taking over after the death of Charlie O'Donnell. O'Donnell had been the voice of the show for most of its history, and the producers used a rotation of guest announcers during the 2010 to 2011 season before settling on Thornton full time.

Over the next 15 seasons he read the opening, described the prizes, voiced the trips and cars, and handled the countless promos and celebrity editions that come with the most-watched game show in syndication. He was on the microphone for Pat Sajak's final episode in June 2024 and for Ryan Seacrest's debut that September. Whatever comes next, he was part of one of the biggest transitions in the show's history.

Every Wheel of Fortune Announcer

The announcer's chair at Wheel has changed hands surprisingly few times. Here is the full lineage of the syndicated and network versions:

  • Charlie O'Donnell (1975 to 1980, 1989 to 2010): The original voice of the show, who returned after a decade away and stayed until his death in November 2010.
  • Jack Clark (1980 to 1988): Took over during the daytime era and was the announcer when the syndicated version launched in 1983 and exploded in popularity.
  • M.G. Kelly (1988 to 1989): A brief stint bridging Clark's exit and O'Donnell's return.
  • Guest announcers (2010 to 2011): A rotating group filled in after O'Donnell's passing while the show searched for a permanent voice.
  • Jim Thornton (2011 to 2026): Fifteen seasons, spanning the end of the Sajak era and the start of the Seacrest era.
  • Interim announcer (2026): Not yet named publicly. Sony says a permanent decision is still to come.

What Happens Next

Expect Sony to name a permanent announcer once the season is underway, and expect that announcement to be treated as real news, because on Wheel it is. The announcer is the first voice viewers hear every night, and the show has had only four full-time ones in 51 years.

We will keep this story updated. In the meantime, our Wheel of Fortune hosts page covers the Seacrest and White era, and our how-to-watch guide has the Season 44 schedule and streaming options.

Sources: Variety, Deadline, TVLine, TV Insider