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Stephen Colbert to replace retiring David Letterman Stephen Colbert to succeed retiring David Letterman
(35 minutes later)
Stephen Colbert, host of Comedy Central's The Colbert Report, will succeed Late Show host David Letterman upon his retirement next year. Stephen Colbert will succeed Late Show host David Letterman upon his retirement next year, CBS has said.
The announcement was made on the Twitter page of US broadcaster CBS on Thursday. Colbert, 49, is host of Comedy Central's acclaimed late-night satire programme The Colbert Report.
Letterman, 66, said last week he was retiring, one year before his contract was set to expire. Letterman, 66, said last week he was retiring after 21 years hosting the CBS show and 11 years on NBC's Late Night.
He is one of the biggest names in US TV, after 21 years hosting the CBS chat show and 11 years on NBC's Late Night. On his show, Colbert plays a satirical version of himself poking fun at right-wing pundits. He has suggested he will retire the character for the new show.
'Highlight of career''Highlight of career'
"Stephen Colbert is one of the most inventive and respected forces on television," CBS president Leslie Moonves wrote in a statement following the announcement."Stephen Colbert is one of the most inventive and respected forces on television," CBS president Leslie Moonves wrote in a statement following the announcement.
"David Letterman's legacy and accomplishments are an incredible source of pride for all of us here, and today's announcement speaks to our commitment of upholding what he established for CBS in late night.""David Letterman's legacy and accomplishments are an incredible source of pride for all of us here, and today's announcement speaks to our commitment of upholding what he established for CBS in late night."
On his popular and influential Emmy-winning Comedy Central programme, Colbert performs in character as a caricature of a right-wing pundit. On his popular and influential Emmy-winning Comedy Central programme, Colbert's biting brand of satire has drawn critical acclaim as well as provoking ire, often from the Republicans and conservatives he skewers.
His biting satire draws critical acclaim as well as provoking ire. Recently he was attacked on social media for a joke some viewed as disparaging toward Asian Americans but which he meant as a satirical jab at the owner of the Washington Redskins American football team. Recently he was attacked on social media for a joke some viewed as disparaging toward Asian Americans but which he meant as a satirical jab at the owner of the Washington Redskins American football team.
Of his hiring to the Late Show top spot, Colbert said, "simply being a guest on David Letterman's show has been a highlight of my career."Of his hiring to the Late Show top spot, Colbert said, "simply being a guest on David Letterman's show has been a highlight of my career."
"I never dreamed that I would follow in his footsteps, though everyone in late night follows Dave's lead.""I never dreamed that I would follow in his footsteps, though everyone in late night follows Dave's lead."