UPDATED 10/12, 8:52 p.m. ET: Trevor Noah will exit The Daily Show before 2023.
Weeks after Noah announced his departure, Paramount Global confirmed the long-time host will officially say farewell on the Dec. 8 broadcast. The company told Deadline the talk show will return on Jan. 17, but has yet to provide details on a potential replacement for Noah, or other changes.
Noah said Chris McCarthy, president and CEO of Paramount Media Networks and MTV Entertainment Studios, “has been an amazing leader and partner who has helped me realize my dream of working not just in front of the camera, but also behind the scenes, producing content which now airs across the Paramount family. I’m truly excited to see what the future holds.”
Comedy Central will also offer a “celebratory look back” at Noah’s time on the program starting Dec. 5.
“Trevor is an incredible talent who has left an indelible mark on The Daily Show and we’re grateful for his creative partnership over the past seven years,” added McCarthy.
Noah made headlines this week after blasting Kanye West’s antisemitic remarks. He specifically called out a since-deleted tweet in which West said he would go “death con 3” on Jewish people.
“I know this is not the point but that’s not how you say it. I know it’s not the main issue. I know that,” Noah joked. “But it’s DEF CON 3. Alright, not death con 3. Death con sounds like like a trade show where they unveil all the latest coffins or something.”
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Trevor Noah has an exit plan for The Daily Show.
The 38-year-old told his audience at Thursday’s taping about his realization that the time has come to step down.
“I realized after seven years, my time is up. But in the most beautiful way. Honestly,” Noah said. “I loved hosting the show. It’s been one of my greatest challenges. It’s been one of my greatest joys. I’ve loved trying to figure out how to make people laugh even when the stories are particularly shitty on the worst days. We’ve laughed together, we’ve cried together. But after seven years, I feel like it’s time.”
Noah recalled ending his two-year break from doing stand-up, and how his return to the stage inspired him to make some changes. He specifically expressed his interest in taking on more projects as well as traveling more.
“I’ve been inspired by new ways to express myself, whether it be hosting a White House Correspondents’ Dinner or doing different stand-up shows around the world, whatever it may be,” he said, before thanking the audience. “The point is, I want to say ‘thank you’ to you…I never dreamed that I would be here. I sort of feel like I was Charlie in the chocolate factory. I came in for a tour of what the previous show was, and the next thing I know I was handed the keys.”
According to Variety, it’s unclear when Trevor Noah’s exit will take place and whether Comedy Central and parent company Paramount Global have found a successor. The South Africa–born comic took over The Daily Show in 2015, replacing Jon Stewart. Since then, he has released a New York Times bestseller, Born a Crime, taken part in films like Black Panther and Coming 2 America, and hosted the aforementioned 2022 White House Correspondents’ Dinner, as well as the Grammy Awards for the last two years.
Variety reports Noah’s replacement may be pulled from The Daily Show’s “large circle of faux ‘correspondents,’ which includes comedians like Desi Lydic, Roy Wood Jr., Ronny Chieng, Michael Costa, and Dulcé Sloan.”
“We are grateful to Trevor for our amazing partnership over the past seven years,” Paramount Global said in a statement. “With no timetable for his departure, we’re working together on next steps. As we look ahead, we’re excited for the next chapter in the 25+ year history of The Daily Show as it continues to redefine culture through sharp and hilarious social commentary, helping audiences make sense of the world around them.”
