Jeopardy! Host Alex Trebek Takes Leave After Brain Surgery

Both Jeopardy!‘s producers and Alex Trebek himself announced the temporary suspension of the show’s taping on Jan. 4 due to the host’s brain surgery.

Beloved Canadian TV personality and longtime Jeopardy! host, Alex Trebek, announced he’s taking an extended medical leave from the hit trivia show after undergoing surgery to remove blood clots from his brain.

The condition, known as subdural hematoma, was caused after a fall the 77-year-old suffered in October. Trebek was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on Dec. 15 and underwent surgery the following day.

But Jeopardy! fans received some welcome good news in a personalized video update from Trebek that was posted on the game show’s official website. In the 35-second clip, Trebek describes the ordeal as only a “slight medical problem.”

Watch Alex Trebek’s personal update here.

He reveals, “The prognosis is excellent and I expect to be back in the studio taping more Jeopardy! programs very, very soon—and I want to thank all of you for your concern.”

In the meantime, Jeopardy! will air brand new previously-taped episodes ahead of Trebek’s expected return in mid-January and will reschedule the show’s annual College Championship for sometime in April.