Trevor Noah announces that his ‘time is up’ after 7 years of hosting ‘The Daily Show’

Trevor Noah announced his plans to step away from hosting “The Daily Show” during a Thursday evening taping of the program. The network posted the monologue to social media shortly before the show was scheduled to air.

“The Daily Show” has featured several hosts over its 25+ year history, including Noah’s predecessor, Jon Stewart, who hosted the evening comedy show for 16 years before handing over the reins.

Noah started his speech by noting that this week marks his seven-year anniversary on the satirical news program.

“One of the overriding feels I found myself experiencing throughout the night and even today waking up was a feeling of gratitude,” Noah said.

The comedian thanked the audience and his team for making the show successful.

“So many people didn’t believe in us. It was a crazy bet to make,” Noah stated, referring to Comedy Central’s choice to have him take over Stewart’s former position. “And I realized, after the seven years, my time is up.”

The unexpected announcement received some gasps from the audience.

Noah continued, “Yeah, but in the most beautiful way, honestly. I’ve loved hosting this 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 s***y on the worst days.”

The talk show host told his audience that he misses stand-up comedy and would like to “carry on exploring” that part of his life. Noah said, “I miss learning other languages. I miss going to other countries and putting on shows.”

Noah assured viewers that his departure would not be instant and that he would continue hosting the show for the “time being” until a final date is determined. He concluded by saying that hosting the program was “truly one of the best experiences of my life.”

“We are grateful to Trevor for our amazing partnership over the past seven years,” Comedy Central 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-plus-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.”

The network plans to continue the long-running television program despite the drop in viewership, but a new host has not yet been revealed.

A Variety article floated the possibility of Comedy Central recruiting an existing correspondent from the show to pick up the host position, such as Desi Lydic, Roy Wood Jr., Ronny Chieng, Michael Kosta, or Dulcé Sloan. The piece speculated that Jordan Klepper or Charlamagne Tha God could also be potential replacements the network is considering.