Television

Stephen Colbert to replace David Letterman

The Colbert Report star moves to the Late Show in 2015
Emily Senger
In this photo provided by CBS, David Letterman, host of the “Late Show with David Letterman,” waves to the audience in New York on Thursday, April 3, 2014, after announcing that he will retire sometime in 2015. Letterman, who turns 67 next week, has the longest tenure of any late-night talk show host in U.S. television history, already marking 32 years since he created "Late Night" at NBC in 1982. (AP Photo/CBS, Jeffrey R. Staab) MANDATORY CREDIT, NO SALES, NO ARCHIVE, FOR NORTH AMERICAN USE ONLY
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Stephen Colbert. (Charles Sykes/AP)
Stephen Colbert. (Charles Sykes/AP)

The rumours and speculation were correct. Stephen Colbert will replace David Letterman when the late-night talk-show host retires in 2015.

The new gig gives Colbert the opportunity to move away from his current persona on Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report, where he currently plays a hyper-conservative pundit.

Letterman announced his retirement last week. Almost immediately, Colbert’s name came up as a possible replacement. CBS made it official Thursday.

“Stephen Colbert is one of the most inventive and respected forces on television,” CBS chairman and CEO Les Moonves said in a statement. “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.”

Having Colbert as host of the Late Show is the latest move in a reorganization of the late-night landscape. Also this year, Jimmy Fallon replaced Jay Leno on The Tonight Show and Seth Meyers moved into Fallon’s spot on NBC’s Late Night.