Noah took over in 2015 after the exit of Jon Stewart.

“We have laughed together, we have cried together. But after seven years, I feel like it’s time,” Noah told his studio audience late on Thursday. The Daily Show posted a clip of Noah’s remarks on social media.

A special message from Trevor Noah pic.twitter.com/lMM8ll51fu

— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) September 30, 2022

He indicated that he wanted to devote more time to stand-up comedy.

“I spent two years in my apartment, not on the road. Stand-up was done, and when I got back out there again, I realised that there’s another part of my life that I want to carry on exploring,” he added.

Read more in Daily Maverick: “How social media forces stand-up comedians like Trevor Noah and Basket Mouth to self-censor”

He ended his remarks by thanking his viewers as his studio audience stood up to applaud him.

The comedian did not mention his exact departure date. It was not known who would succeed him.

The comedian announced the Trevor Noah Live in South Africa tour will take place between August and September 2023. He will do 12 shows in Cape Town, Durban and Pretoria.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Gerry Doyle. Additional reporting by Daily Maverick.)