Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings reveals his last conversation with Alex Trebek the night before he died

Ken Jennings has recalled the last conversation he had with iconic Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek the night before the long-running game show host died.

Trebek died at the age of 80 of pancreatic cancer in November 2020, having been a mainstay on television with his hosting duties on Jeopardy! for an incredible 37 seasons.

In his time as host the highest earning contestant on the show was Ken Jennings, who earned over four million dollars on Jeopardy! and would go on to succeed Trebek as host along with actor Mayim Bialik.

Jennings had guest hosted on the show as well as been crowned its greatest contestant of all time, so he had plenty of opportunities to meet Trebek.

The 49-year-old recently opened up on the final time they met and spoke before Trebek died from cancer.

Jeopardy Productions via Getty Images

Speaking to Last Podcast on the Left, Jennings opened up on the final conversation he had with Trebek the night before the 80-year-old died and revealed that they discussed Jennings becoming a guest host for the popular show.

He said: "I actually ended up talking to him what turned out to be the night before the day he passed away, about guest hosting for him.

"We actually didn’t know. We thought, ‘Oh, he’s going to get better, he’s gonna bounce back, he’ll be hosting again.’ I was just going to fill in.

"You know, he gave me the impression he always did over the years, which was that he did not want to be the center of attention on Jeopardy!"

"He was never announced as the star of Jeopardy! - he was always the host of Jeopardy! because he thought the game itself and the contestants should be the star."

Amanda Edwards/Getty Images

Jennings went on to reveal what Trebek was like when the cameras weren't switched on, having been able to witness it himself plenty of times as a contestant.

"During commercials, he would tell jokes, go into the crowd. He loved to warm up the crowd himself and do little impressions," the Jeopardy! co-host said of his iconic predecessor.

"He was a very light, funny guy. But he had to keep the show moving because that’s the job description."

"But things you think you know about him - that’s he’s smart, that he actually knew all those answers and wanted you to know that he knew them, was a very well-read and kind of a gentleman of the old school - all 100 percent true."

Topics: Film and TV, Celebrity

Joe Harker

Joe graduated from the University of Salford with a degree in Journalism and worked for Reach before joining the LADbible Group. When not writing he enjoys the nerdier things in life like painting wargaming miniatures and chatting with other nerds on the internet. He's also spent a few years coaching fencing. Contact him via [email protected]

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