South African comedian Trevor Noah has officially taken over from Jon Stewart as the new host of The Daily Show. Stewart announced his retirement last month after 15 years as a host, and over the weekend the rumours started making the rounds that our favourite comedian is the first choice as the new host of the show.
“You don’t believe it for the first few hours,” 31-year-old Noah told the Times of getting his new job. “You need a stiff drink, and then unfortunately you’re in a place where you can’t really get alcohol.” (He’s currently on a comedy tour in Dubai.)
“I’m thrilled for the show and for Trevor,” Mr. Stewart said in a statement. “He’s a tremendous comic and talent that we’ve loved working with.” Mr. Stewart added that he “may rejoin as a correspondent just to be a part of it!!!”
Comedy Central also addressed the potential blowback of missing the opportunity to hire a woman to host what’s arguably their most popular program:
Michele Ganeless, the Comedy Central president, said in an interview: “We talked to women. We talked to men. We found in Trevor the best person for the job.”
In December last year, 31-year-old Noah, made his on-air contribution on the show offering his outsider’s perspective, as a biracial South Africa, on the Unites States
“I never thought I’d be more afraid of police in America than in South Africa,” he said with a smile. “It kind of makes me a little nostalgic for the old days, back home.”
After only three appearances on the show, Trevor has received a promotion from on-air contributor to host of the show. We know that we sill for certain be watching and supporting our favourite Crazy Normal comedian all the way in the USA!
Well done, Trevor, well done!