Trevor Noah to Succeed Jon Stewart on ‘The Daily Show’
After just three appearances on Comedy Central, South African comedian Trevor Noah has gotten a huge and unexpected promotion.
The 31-year-old funnyman joined Jon Stewart on The Daily Show to offer his perspective as a biracial male living in the United States, but also as Stewart’s rising successor for when he steps down later this year.
Noah confirmed the good news in a tweet to his 2 million followers.
As did Comedy Central:
The network’s selection of Noah comes less than two months since Stewart, 52, announced he would be exiting the show after 16 years. With a nonwhite performer as head of the flagship Comedy Central franchise, newcomer Noah aims to add a youthful and international perspective as one who also comes with Stewart’s endorsements.
“I’m thrilled for the show and for Trevor,” Stewart said in a statement. “He’s a tremendous comic and talent that we’ve loved working with.”
“We talked to women. We talked to men. We found in Trevor the best person for the job,” Comedy Central president Michele Ganeless, explained. “You don’t hope to find the next Jon Stewart — there is no next Jon Stewart. So, our goal was to find someone who brings something really exciting and new and different.
Speaking on her shortlist of possible successors, she added that “Trevor checked off every box on that list and then some.”
Although relatively unknown in the States, the comedian has hosted numerous television shows — including his own late night talk show- – in his native country of Soweta. He was the son of a black Xhosa mother and a white Swiss father, whose union was illegal during the apartheid era.
We can’t wait to see where Noah takes the show. Will you be watching?
Meet Trevor Noah in a short clip from The Daily Show below:
(Photo Credit: Kevin Winter—NBC Universal/Getty Images)
