On Thursday, Trevor Noah, host of The Daily Show announced his departure as host of the satirical news and talk show after seven years.

After seven years, Trevor Noah is leaving The Daily Show. The host, comic and author announced his departure on Thursday evening (September 29), in a 5-minute special message, saying that his "time is up."

“It’s been absolutely amazing. It’s something that I never expected,” Noah said about hosting the satirical news and talk show. “I found myself thinking throughout the time of everything we’ve gone through. The Trump presidency, the pandemic, just the journey, more pandemic and I realize that after the seven years, my time is up.”

“I want to say thank you to you, to you who watched this,” Noah said. “I never dreamed that I would be here. I sort of feel like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I came here for a tour of what the previous show was and then the next thing you know I was handed the keys.”

Noah became Jon Stewart's successor on The Daily Show in 2015, going on to host The Grammy Awards and The Academy Awards in recent years. Noah hinted that following the talk show's conclusion, he aims to return to stand-up.

“I spent two years in my apartment, not on the road, and when I got back out there, I realized there’s another part of my life out there that I want to carry on exploring. I miss learning other languages. I miss going to other countries and putting on shows,” Noah said.

Although the South African comic didn't announce when his final show would air – or if he's considered a successor – he winked at still being The Daily Show host for awhile longer.

“Don’t worry, i’m not disappearing,” Noah said. “If I owe you money, I’ll still pay you.”