‘Jeopardy!’ guest host Ken Jennings had no idea his first return episode would air on one-year anniversary of Alex Trebek’s death

“Jeopardy!” guest host Ken Jennings had no idea his first return episode would air on the one-year anniversary of Alex Trebek’s death.

The former champ had been the first to step in after Trebek died of pancreatic cancer at age 80, the first of 15 months of guest hosts by as many celebrities and former players. Jennings had last hosted in February before returning in the fall.

“Apparently, everyone was aware that we were going to air [my first episode] on the anniversary and nobody told me,” Jennings told USA Today. “They didn’t want to put that in my head. So I was not told until after that it was the Nov. 8 show.”

While Jennings relished being back onstage, he admitted he felt a bit rusty, especially given how easy his beloved predecessor had made it look.

Last year’s hosting stint had been beyond daunting, he said.

“I was just terrified, and I think rightfully so,” the 47-year-old told USA Today. “I mean, Alex had just barely passed, and really no one else had hosted the show since 1974; like, literally, in my lifetime.”

Back then, filling those shoes seemed impossible. This year the show is finding its new legs.

“This time, we’re kind of a year removed or more from all that, so I’ve had every possible emotion now related to ‘Jeopardy!’ " Jennings said.

If called on to host permanently, he said, he’d step up again, though he denied actively aspiring to the role.

“If my country called upon me to host ‘Jeopardy!’ I would happily do my patriotic duty,” he told USA Today. “That show is my first love. I, even as a little kid, I would run home from school every day to watch. It’s just a big part of who I am and the person I became, even before I was on the show. So it’s just enormously flattering to be in the mix. And I feel like the show is in good hands, at this point, no matter what happens.”

Trebek’s legacy seemed also in good hands as other former players, hosts and his wife, Jean Trebek, paid tribute on the one-year anniversary of his death.

“My beloved husband passed away one year ago,” she wrote on Instagram alongside a video in which the departed host introduced The Compassion Challenge, a program to help teachers help elementary school students practice empathy with their classmates. “One of his final messages was that of the importance of having compassion for each other.”