CULVER CITY (CNS) - “Jeopardy!'s'' greatest contestant will be its first interim guest host, the game show announced Monday.
Ken Jennings will be the first of what the show described as “a series of interim guest hosts from within the `Jeopardy!' family,'' to fill the role held by Alex Trebek since its syndicated revival began in 1984.
Trebek died Nov. 8 from pancreatic cancer at the age of 80.
“By bringing in familiar guest hosts for the foreseeable future, our goal is to create a sense of community and continuity for our viewers,'' executive producer Mike Richards said.
Production will resume Nov. 30. The first week of guest-hosted shows will air the week of Jan. 11.
Jennings won the “Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time,'' competition which aired in January. He holds the show's records for most consecutive games won, 74, and highest winnings in regular-season play, $2,520,700.
Additional guest hosts will be announced in the weeks ahead.
Jennings became a “`Jeopardy!'' consulting producer this season, presenting his own special video categories, developing projects, assisting with contestant outreach and serving as a general ambassador for the show.
An update to “Jeopardy!'s'' broadcast schedule was also announced Monday. In memory of Trebek, the show will air 10 of his best episodes the weeks of Dec. 21 and Dec. 28.
Due to anticipated preemptions around Christmas and New Year's Day, Trebek's last week of episodes will now air the week of Jan. 4.
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