Twitter grieves

Jon Stewart is to step down from the Daily Show after almost 17 years at the helm.

The comedian reportedly told the audience at the taping of tonight’s show that he will be stepping down.

Comedy Central then issued a statement saying that he would continue in the host's chair until later this year.

The statement from the US broadcaster's president, Michele Ganeless, read: ‘For the better part of the last two decades we have had the incredible honour and privilege of working with Jon Stewart. His comedic brilliance is second to none.

‘Jon has been at the heart of Comedy Central, championing and nurturing the best talent in the industry, in front of and behind the camera. 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.’

Now the fight will be on to replace him.

Stewart became host of the Daily Show on Comedy Central in early 1999 when Craig Kilborn left after three years. Stewart made it into the programme it is today, garnering 19 Emmy Awards on the way.

He took time off in the summer of 2013 while he directed his movie Rosewater, about Iranian-Canadian journalist’s Maziar Bahari’s arrest and imprisonment by the Tehran regime. John Oliver covered his hiatus, leading to his own HBO show Last Week Tonight.

In an interview with NPR last year, Stewart raised the possibility of leaving The Daily Show.

He said: ‘I don't know that there will ever be anything that I will ever be as well suited for as this show. That being said, I think there are moments when you realise that that's not enough anymore, or that maybe it's time for some discomfort.

‘I think there's a tendency when something's been on the air for a really long time to dismiss it only because of its familiarity. And it's hard to retain that first blush of love that you have when you first find something that takes you, whether it be, you know, artistic, material or music or other things. But I'm still really proud of the work we do day in and day out.

’You know, 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 that I struggle with. And it is unclear to me.'

Stewart’s departure will provoke the second shake-up for Comedy Central’s satirical programming, after former Daily Show correspondent Stephen Colbert quit his Colbert Report at the end of last year, so he could take over David Letterman’s job on The Late Show.

The Twittersphere reacted with shock, including tributes from some famous fans.

Hugh Laurie said: ‘Devastated that Jon Stewart is standing down. The thin comic line is breached and the barbarians are upon us.’

Craig Ferguson, the Scottish-born comic who has just stood down from his own CBS talk show said: ‘Congratulations to Jon Stewart on an extraordinary groundbreaking run.’

JK Rowling: ‘Jon Stewart is leaving @theDAilyShow, one of my favourite TV shows ever. That’s major news to get over your morning tea.’

Patton Oswalt: ‘So, we have to navigate the poop-dipped trainwreck of the 2016 election WITHOUT Jon Stewart hosting @TheDailyShow? Hmmm…’

Mindy Kaling: ‘I knew when Jon Stewart left to direct that movie he was gonna try something like this.’

BBC economics editor Robert Peston: ‘Terrible terrible terrible that Daily Show's Jon Stewart is retiring. What is there to watch now?’

Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington: ‘Was that the sound of champagne corks coming from @FoxNews at the news Jon Stewart is stepping down.’

Published: 11 Feb 2015