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Comedian Trevor Noah has announced he is standing down as host of The Daily Show.<\/p>\n Noah said he was \u201cfilled with gratitude for the journey\u201d but that there was \u201canother part of my life that I want to carry on exploring\u201d.<\/p>\n The 38-year-old has hosted the satirical news and talk show since taking over from Jon Stewart in 2015.<\/p>\n He said the timing of his departure would be announced later and that he would continue as host in the meantime.<\/p>\n Noah began his career in his native South Africa, releasing a string of stand-up specials and hosting a late-night talk show before relocating to the US in 2011.<\/p>\n He was still a relative unknown when he was chosen to take over the Daily Show on the Comedy Central network, but has since become an internationally-recognised star and won numerous television awards.<\/p>\n Noah made the announcement at the end of his show on Thursday night, prompting shocked gasps from the studio audience.<\/p>\n He thanked the show\u2019s crew and loyal fans for an \u201camazing seven years\u201d, adding: \u201cIt\u2019s been wild, truly wild\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember when we first started\u2026 so many people didn\u2019t believed in us,\u201d he said. \u201c[Appointing me as host] was a crazy bet to make. I still think it was a crazy choice, this random African.<\/p>\n \u201cI just [find] myself filled with gratitude for the journey. It\u2019s been absolutely amazing. It\u2019s something that I never expected.\u201d<\/p>\n He said that after everything that has happened during his time hosting the show \u2013 including Donald Trump\u2019s presidency and the Covid pandemic \u2013 he had decided his \u201ctime is up, but in the most beautiful way\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve loved hosting this show, it\u2019s been one of my greatest challenges, it\u2019s been one of my greatest joys. But after seven years, I feel like it\u2019s time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI realised there\u2019s another part of my life that I want to carry on exploring. I miss learning other languages, I miss going to other countries and putting on shows. I miss just being everywhere and doing everything.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m really grateful to a network who believed in this random comedian nobody knew on this side of the world.<\/p>\n \u201cI never dreamed that I would be here. I sort of felt like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I came in for a tour of what the previous show was, and then the next thing I know I was handed the keys.<\/p>\n \u201cAll I can say is thank you very much.\u201d<\/p>\n