Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek is taking a break from the hit NBC game show after undergoing surgery to remove blood clots from his brain.

The show's production has been suspended for a brief period while Trebek, who has been the host of Jeopardy!  since 1984, recuperates from the surgery.

The game show host announced the news via a video message on the official Jeopardy! YouTube channel on Thursday, Jan. 4. He explained his condition to the fans before promising them he'll be back to host the show as soon as possible.

Trebek's Brain Surgery

The 77-year-old was admitted to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles last month after suffering complications from hitting his head in a fall last October.

The collapse caused a subdural hematoma or blood clots in the brain and he had to undergo a brain surgery to get rid of the clots. The surgery was successful and he was discharged from the hospital after two days.

"Some of you might have heard by now that during the holiday break, I had a slight medical problem," Trebek says in the video. "After two days in the hospital, I came home to start recovery. The prognosis is excellent. And I expect to be back in the studio taping more Jeopardy! programs very, very soon."

The game show host is expected to make a full recovery and resume taping mid-January. Like many other syndicated game shows, Jeopardy! is shot months prior to its air date, because of which, its broadcast schedule will remain unaffected.

However, the upcoming College Championship, which was scheduled for taping now, will now be filmed in March. The broadcast date is listed for the following month.

Trebek's Health Setbacks

Trebek has had a history of health scares. In 2011, he ruptured his Achilles tendon while chasing a burglar out of his hotel room.

The following year, he suffered a mild heart attack. Then again, in 2015, he had carried out his hosting duties while being seated after getting a full knee replacement.

However, none of these health problems have dissuaded Trebek from hosting the quiz show. Although there have been occasional postponements in the show's taping, Trebek has hosted Jeopardy! for 33 years and is showing no signs of stopping anytime soon.

In May, he renewed his contract with Sony Pictures Television to host the show through the 2019-2020 season.

Watch Trebek's YouTube announcement below.