Some weeks after the passing of longtime host and icon Alex Trebek, Sony Pictures Television has finally announced who will be taking his placed, at least for the time being. The interim host for Jeopardy! will be, as many predicted/hoped, will be Ken Jennings, one of the most famous contestants to ever appear on the show. While Trebek had reportedly continued filming the show up until his passing, Jennings will start hosting when new episodes begin production towards the end of November.

Ken Jennings had been a popular nomination for a replacement Jeopardy! host for some time given his longstanding participation in the show. Jennings holds the record for longest winning streak in Jeopardy! history with 74 consecutive wins, and also has the highest average correct responses per game. Since then he has remained closely tied to the show, appearing on several special Jeopardy! events, signing on as a consulting producer, and now accepting this role as interim host.

RELATED: Tyler Perry Feeds 5,000 Families for Thanksgiving

While discussing the transition Executive Producer Mike Richards touched on the show's cultural significance: “Alex believed in the importance of ‘Jeopardy!’ and always said that he wanted the show to go on after him. We will honor Alex’s legacy by continuing to produce the game he loved with smart contestants and challenging clues. By bringing in familiar guest hosts for the foreseeable future, our goal is to create a sense of community and continuity for our viewers.” A statement like that is not only a reassuring sign that the transition is being taken seriously, but also a fairly open invitation to speculate about who might be brought in after Jennings. Inviting a wide variety of different host is a nice way to celebrate the history of the show, while also testing the waters for a possible permanent replacement.

In the meantime Sony Pictures Television plans to air a selection of 10 classic Jeopardy! episodes hosted by Trebek between December 21 and December 28 in celebration of his life. As for new content, the last episodes hosted by Trebeck will run on the week of January 4 next year. After that the show will begin running episodes hosted by Jennings, and then other temporary hosts after him, which have yet to be announced.

MORE: Jason Momoa Makes a Surprise Call to Aquaman Fan Battling Cancer

Source: Variety