CNN –
“The Daily Show” host Trevor Noah has announced that he will be stepping away from the anchor desk.
In a video statement shared Thursday on Twitter, Noah said that after seven years as host of the satirical news show Comedy Central, his “time is up.”
“It’s been absolutely amazing. It’s something I never expected,” Noah said of his experience hosting the show. “I found myself thinking back over time about everything we’ve been through. The Trump presidency, the pandemic, just the journey, more pandemic and realizing that after seven years, my time is up.”
Noah, a standup comedian from South Africa, was a relative newcomer to American audiences when he was named host of “The Daily Show” after Jon Stewart signed on in 2015.
Watch highlights from the first episode of ‘The Daily Show with Trevor Noah’
“I want to thank you, you who saw this,” Noah said. “I never dreamed I’d be here. It feels like ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.’ I came here for a tour of what the previous show was, and then the next thing you know, they handed me the keys.”
Noah hinted that his decision to leave the show is rooted in his desire to get back to doing more standup work.
“I spent two years in my apartment, not on the road, and when I got back there, I realized there was another part of my life that I want to continue exploring. I miss learning other languages. I miss going to other countries and do shows,” Noah said.
He expressed his gratitude to his viewers, the crew of “The Daily Show” and Comedy Central, “who believed in this random comic that no one knew on this side of the world.”
“I’ve loved hosting this show, it’s been one of my biggest challenges and one of my biggest joys,” Noah said. “I’ve loved trying to find a way to make people laugh, even when the stories are particularly cute, even on the worst days. We’ve laughed together, we’ve cried together.”
He didn’t say when his last show would be, but said he’d still be around for a while.
“Don’t worry, I’m not disappearing,” Noah said. “If I owe you money, I’ll still pay you back.”