Laura Coates Says ‘Jeopardy’ Rejected Her As Host Despite Alex Trebek’s Support

As “Jeopardy!” remains without a permanent host, a starry contender is coming forward with claims she was turned away for the coveted gig.

Appearing on the “Tamron Hall Show” Monday, CNN legal analyst and author Laura Coates said she expressed interest in hosting “Jeopardy!” after longtime host Alex Trebek’s death in 2020, only to be rebuffed by the show’s producers.

“When it came time ― when they were looking for people to possibly fill in ― I certainly raised my hand and knocked on doors and found them closed,” Coates said. “I asked for the opportunity. I was told no.”

Fans may recall that Coates ― whose latest book, “Just Pursuit: A Black Prosecutor’s Fight for Fairness,” is out this week ― was named by Trebek as one of his two picks for a successor back in 2018. His other suggestion was NHL announcer Alex Faust.

Watch Laura Coates’ interview on the “Tamron Hall Show” below.

Last summer, “Jeopardy!” brought on a rotating cast of guest hosts, including Anderson Cooper, Katie Couric and Savannah Guthrie, as producers publicly sought a replacement for Trebek.