Jon Stewart Announces Plans to Leave ‘The Daily Show’

Jon Stewart has become the last of the long-running late night hosts to step down after revealing he plans to quit The Daily Show later this year.

Stewart, who made the announcement during Tuesday’s taping of his political satire program, has fronted the popular, multi-award-winning comedy show for 17 years.

Confirming the news, Michele Ganeless, the president of Comedy Central, the network behind The Daily Show says, “For the better part of the last two decades, I have had the incredible honor and privilege of working with Jon Stewart. His comedic brilliance is second to none. Jon has been at the heart of Comedy Central, championing and nurturing the best talent in the industry, in front of and behind the camera.

“Through his unique voice and vision, The Daily Show has become a cultural touchstone for millions of fans and an unparalleled platform for political comedy that will endure for years to come. Jon will remain at the helm of The Daily Show until later this year. He is a comic genius, generous with his time and talent, and will always be a part of the Comedy Central family.”

Stewart took over the popular show in 1999, and has won 18 Emmy Awards, including 10 consecutive wins for Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Series.

Stewart stepped down from his hosting duties in the summer of 2013 to direct political drama Rosewater, and recently hinted to Jerry Seinfeld in his web-series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee that he would have no qualms about leaving the program in the near future.

When asked where he saw himself in 10 years, Stewart replied, “Putting in 15 years – nobody’s going to do 30 years of television again. I’m not interested in just going in and hitting the ruts that I’ve worn out.

“It’s going to be time to hand it off, and go, ‘I’m kind of out.’ That doesn’t mean I don’t still love doing it. But I’m finally getting to the place in my head where I’m like, ‘When it goes, I’m gonna be very OK with that.”

Stewart’s former Daily Show regular-turned-show host Stephen Colbert wrapped up his The Colbert Report on Comedy Central late last year after announcing he would be replacing outgoing The Late Show host David Letterman.

Craig Ferguson also stepped down as the host of The Late Late Show in December and will be replaced permanently next month by fellow Brit James Corden.

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