Jon Stewart to leave Daily Show, Comedy Central says

Jon Stewart, the host of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, will step down later this year, the president of the network has confirmed.

“His comedic brilliance is second to none,” said Michele Ganeless in a statement.

Stewart, who began hosting the show in 1999, will remain there until later in 2015, she said.

“He is a comic genius, generous with his time and talent, and will always be a part of the Comedy Central family.”

In 2013, he took time out to direct a film, Rosewater, about an Iranian-born journalist who was imprisoned and accused of spying.

His departure comes after the network lost another major comedy figure, Stephen Colbert, who left to take over David Letterman’s late night show on CBS.

‘Miss it like crazy’

Stewart’s show has often been cited as a leading news source for young people, with an average audience of one million viewers.

His targets – and his guests – have been politicians and public figures, addressed in tones that are often indignant, or teasing.

The Daily Show has also been a launch pad for several well-known comic performers, including Steve Carell and John Oliver, as well as Colbert.

Comedy Central did not say what Stewart was planning to do next, or who would replace him.

In an interview with US broadcaster NPR in November, Stewart admitted that he had considered leaving The Daily Show.

“You can’t just stay in the same place because it feels like you’ve built a nice house there, and that’s really the thing I struggle with,” he said.

“It is unclear to me… The minute I say I am not going to do it any more, I will miss it like crazy.”