Jon Stewart of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on Comedy Central (DStv 122) has announced that he is leaving the show after 16 years later in 2015.
Jon Stewart's current contract with Comedy Central ends in September and he told his Daily Show studio audience on Tuesday that his final appearance "might be December, might be July".
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart first became available to South African and African audiences three years ago when MultiChoice added Viacom International Media Networks Africa's (VIMN Africa) Comedy Central Africa channel to the DStv satellite pay-TV platform in December 2011, together with The Colbert Report.
An emotional Jon Stewart, who is also the executive producer of the show, apparently close to tears, told his Daily Show studio audience that "I don't have any specific plans. Got a lot of ideas. I got a lot of things in my head. I’m going to have dinner on a school night with my family, who I have heard from multiple sources are lovely people."
During Jon Stewart's reign as anchor of The Daily Show, the satirical programme has won 20 Emmy Awards.
Stephen Colbert who appeared on The Daily Show as a character got his own spin-off in The Colbert Report, as did John Oliver who was a correspondent on The Daily Show and then got his own satirical news show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver seen on M-Net (DStv 101) and which will return for its new second season very soon on M-Net after it just started in America.
In a statement Comedy Central in the United States says "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".
Jon Stewart's exit will sting Comedy Central.
There's a growing Comedy Central crisis: The channel has lost several well-known and loved faces in quick succession. Stephen Colbert, John Oliver and now Jon Stewart whose absence has been steadily draining Comedy Central from must-watch reasons to watch the channel.
The Daily Show will continue but there's been no announcement on who will be replacing Jon Stewart on the show.
