Jon Stewart quits The Daily Show

After being a host for 17 years, political satirist Jon Stewart is quitting The Daily Show.

Comedy Central has confirmed his departure from the show, reported Ace Showbiz.

"Jon will remain at the helm for The Daily Show until later this year. He is a comic genius, generous with his time and talent, and will always be a part of the Comedy Central family," Comedy Central said in a statement.

"For the better part of the last two decades, we have had the inedible honour and privilege of working with Jon Stewart,"

the network went on stating.

"His comedic brilliance is second to none. Jon has been at the heart of Comedy Central, championing and nurturing the best talent in the industry, in front of and behind the camera. Through his unique voice and vision, The Daily Show has become a cultural touchstone for millions of fans and an unparallelled platform for political comedy that will endure for years to come," it added.

Stewart, 52, himself has not yet issued any statements regarding the matter.

Photograph: Mike Theiler/Reuters