Pat Sayak‘s daughter, Maggie Sayakthinks Ryan Seacrest is “amazing” and “so professional” as the new host of Wheel of Fortune.

“I’m sure you would guess that, but he really appreciates the show and knows how important it is,” Maggie, 29, said exclusively Us weekly at the iHeartRadio Music Festival on Saturday, September 21st. “You can really tell by how prepared he is and how he interacts with the participants and how he handles the whole experience.”

Seacrest, 49, was announced as the new host in June 2023, replacing Sajak, 77, ending his legendary four-decade tenure as host of the popular game show. While Seacrest made his debut on the flagship show earlier this month, Sajak is expected to return to host its final season celebrity wheel of fortune, Premiere on Monday, October 7th.

For her part, Maggie followed in her father’s footsteps and worked on the team Wheel of Fortune as an official social correspondent since 2021. Due to her long association with the show and the cast involved, she said co-host Vanna White, who remains on the show, is part of her family. (Pat shares Maggie and son Patrick, 34, with his wife Lesly Brown.)

“We joke that she’s Aunt Vanna, but I’ve actually known her since before I was born,” Maggie said Us. “She’s great, I love being able to see her at work now. We have a lot of fun, I include her in my TikToks and stuff like that, so she’s the best.”

Maggie continued: “She really is such an icon, such a legend and also such an amazing human being. She’s as sweet as she seems.”

Related: Pat Sajak pokes fun at the contestant’s failed guess last week

Pat Sajak’s path to becoming TV’s longest-running game show host has had its ups and downs over the years. The TV personality became a fixture on the small screen after taking over the role of original “Wheel of Fortune” host Chuck Woolery in 1981, and was joined by co-host Vanna White a year later. “If I (…)

The social correspondent raved about it Us about what it was like growing up on set.

“It’s a very special show for so many people and it’s more than just a show, which might sound a bit cheesy, but it really is. I mean, it’s an intergenerational bond. This is the time when families eat dinner together. I mean, it’s really special,” she explained. “When people have come up to my dad or told me how special the show is to them, it goes beyond just ‘I love this show’ and now it’s really meaningful to me to be a part of it.”

Related: Pat Sajak’s Daughter Will Guest Host ‘Wheel of Fortune’: What You Should Know

Keep it in the family! Pat Sajak’s daughter, Maggie Sajak, is preparing to make her debut as host of “Wheel of Fortune.” The 28-year-old Maryland native — whose 76-year-old father has hosted the game show since 1981 — is scheduled to fill in for her father and his co-host Vanna White on Wednesday, May 10.

Maggie and her family were caring Wheel of Fortune and what would happen after Pat’s departure, but she feels like “it’s in good hands and we’re excited to see where it goes.”

New episodes of Wheel of Fortune airs weekdays. Check your local listings.

Reporting by Christine Maddela