A JEOPARDY! contestant has emotionally revealed that she previously competed in what would be Alex Trebek’s final episode.

Yoshie Hill – who scored a surprise win on Thursday – was invited back after being the returning champion for the late host’s last-ever game.

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Yoshie Hill recalled: ‘Little did we know that was going to be Alex’s last show’Credit: ABC

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Ken Jennings nearly burst into tears: ‘And you were on the stage for it’Credit: ABC

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Alex Trebek seen here hosting his last episode filmed just ten days before his deathCredit: ABC
Champ-turned-host Ken, 49, is hosting the Champions Wildcard tournament instead of regular episodes.

The event sees former one, two, and three-time winners from Seasons 37 and 38 back at the buzzer to settle the score.

Yoshie, a program support specialist from Colma, California, is a former two-day winner whose defeat aired on January 8, 2021.

But her defeat marked a sendoff felt around the world: Alex’s last episode.

It was taped ten days before he succumbed to stage four cancer at age 80 on November 8, 2020, and wound up being Alex’s final time hosting.

Alex hosted the game show from 1984 until his death, and his last episodes aired posthumously.

Ken, who is the winningest Jeopardy! champion, began to host the show alongside a currently-on-strike Mayim Bialik in 2022.

‘I NEVER WOULD HAVE KNOWN’

Ken began interviewing Yoshie by prompting: “Speaking of Jeopardy! distinctions, you were on stage for the very last game hosted by Alex Trebek.”

Yoshie spoke in detail about the experience: “Well, actually, I was the loser that day.

“So I was a two-time champion, [I] came back for my third game; I lost on a stupid bet on Final Jeopardy.

“But little did we know that that was actually going to be Alex’s last show.”

Ken remarked in awe: “And you were on the stage for it.”

She replied: “I was on the stage, and it was remarkable for a man who was actually very, very sick, standing that close to me, he looked so good.

“I never would have known, and he had so much energy and focus.

“And with each contestant, it must have taken a tremendous amount of effort to maintain that level of professionalism on that day.”

The audience applauded as Ken said: “I think so, too.”

He continued: “He was not in good health backstage, but he could come out here, and he could do the show.”

“This was the place where he felt confident and on top of things, and I’m so glad he had that so late in his life.”

Ken took a moment to collect himself as he was trembling before getting back into the gameplay.

‘WE MISS YOU ALEX!’

Jeopardy! shared the moving moment on Instagram ahead of airtime, interspliced with clips of Alex’s last game.

One comment read: “Really miss Alex, but Ken is doing a phenomenal job of filling those very big shoes.”

Another person posted: “Who’s cutting onions? You are missed every day, Alex.”

A third wrote: “Yoshie’s tribute to Alex was emotional. Thank you, Alex,” and a fourth wrote: “Definitely a legend.”

A fifth applauded: “Thank you, Jeopardy! for posting this with Yoshie. I adore her and am so glad she came back to play! Her story is incredibly poignant. Glad to have produced that moment with her :)”

YOSHIE’S SURPRISING WIN

Going into Thursday’s Double Jeopardy!, Yoshie was trailing against Mason Maggio, a songwriter from Los Angeles, California, and Tony Freitas, a director of project engineering from Claremont, California.

Mason led with $9600, while Tony had $2,800, and Yoshie just $1,200, even dropping to $0 at one point.

Mason looked like he was going to win with around 25 correct responses to her eight correct responses.

However, he mistakenly decided to bet $6000 on a late Daily Double with a $14,000 lead, costing him a huge advantage.

Going into Final Jeopardy, Mason instead had $7,600, Yoshie $5,600 and Tony $2,400.

The question under: “FAMOUS FAMILIES” read: “In 2020 a former U.S. ambassador to Ireland, the last of 9 siblings in this dynastic family, died at 92.”

Yoshie and Tony were correct with “Kennedy” and she went all in, winning the game from behind with $11,200 total and looking just thrilled.

Yoshie will now advance to the special’s semi-finals, where the prize is $100,000 and a slot in the next Tournament of Champions.

One fan reacted on Reddit: “That was the best comeback/worst blown lead I’ve seen in quite some time.

“Mason found DD3 midway through DJ with $14,000 to his opponents’ $400 and $800, but Yoshie still came back to win in FJ. Wow.”

Another viewer posted: “ZOMG! Very happy with this outcome, I thought for sure Yoshie was in trouble there but she slowly built up and her all-in FJ bet paid off!”

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Jeopardy! shared Yoshie competing on Alex’s last episode in which she lost on a $0 correct answerCredit: Jeopardy!

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She further told Ken: ‘It was remarkable for a man who was actually very, very sick, standing that close to me, he looked so good’Credit: Jeopardy!

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Yoshie trailed nearly the entire time on Thursday but didn’t let her $0 Final Jeopardy! bet happen twiceCredit: ABC

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She went all-in to win the episode, looking beside herselfCredit: Jeopardy!

‘SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK’

Alex revealed his diagnosis in the Jeopardy! staff in March 2019.

Staff relayed that Alex decided: “From the very beginning, ‘this is not going to affect anything. I plan on fighting this. Let’s get back to work.'”

Alex kicked off the trivia show’s 37th season in September 2020 as he found himself doing his job again even while battling cancer.

Former longtime producer Rocky Schmidt said he would check in on Alex between tapings and once found him in his dressing room: “on the floor, crying in pain. Somehow, he rallied.”

Alex never let on that he was getting worse while continuing to host.

He cheerfully said while wrapping his final episode: “Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for spending the time with us.

We’ll see you again next week.”

Alex is survived by his wife, Jean Currivan, 57, and their three kids- Emily, 30, Matt, 33, and adopted daughter Nicky, 40.

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Ken Jennings went on his still-record 74-game run with Alex in 2004 before becoming hostCredit: Getty

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Ken and Mayim Bialik co-host Jeopardy! with the actress out this season and her return date unknown as she’s stood with SAG-AFTRACredit: Instagram/missmayim