Trevor Noah has been selected to become the next host of the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning The Daily Show, it was announced today by Michele Ganeless, president, Comedy Central. His show's premiere will be announced at a later date. Current host Jon Stewart announced in February that he is stepping down as The Daily Show host later this year after 16 years on the air.

Noah (TrevorNoah.com) joined The Daily Show with Jon Stewart in 2014 as a contributor. He made his U.S. television debut in 2012 on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and has also appeared on Late Show with David Letterman, becoming the first South African stand-up comedian to appear on either late night show. Born in South Africa to a black South African mother and a white European father, he has successfully become the top comedian in Africa. Noah has hosted numerous television shows including his own late night talk show in his native country, Tonight with Trevor Noah. Here's what Michele Ganeless had to say about Trevor Noah in a statement.

"Trevor Noah is an enormous talent. He has an insightful and unique point of view, and most importantly, is wickedly funny. For the next host of The Daily Show, we set out to find a fresh voice who can speak to our audience with a keen take on the events of the day, and we found that in Trevor. He has a huge international following and is poised to explode here in America, and we are thrilled to have him join Comedy Central."

Here's what Trevor Noah had to say in his statement.

"It's an honor to follow Jon Stewart. He and the team at The Daily Show have created an incredible show whose impact is felt all over the world. In my brief time with the show they've made me feel so welcome. I'm excited to get started and work with such a fantastic group of people."

Departing host Jon Stewart had this to say in his statement.

"I'm thrilled for the show and for Trevor. He's a tremendous comic and talent that we've loved working with...In fact, I may rejoin as a correspondent just to be a part of it!!!"

Noah was the subject of David Paul Meyer's award-winning documentary film You Laugh But It's True which tells the story of his remarkable career in post-apartheid South Africa. Noah's one-man show "The Racist" at the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe was a sold out run that became one of the most talked about shows at the Festival that year. Recently, Noah performed for the Royal Family at the Royal Variety Performance.

Noah (@TrevorNoah) was featured on the October 2014 cover of GQ South Africa and has been profiled in Rolling Stone, Newsweek and The Wall Street Journal, and by CNN and NPR's "Talk of the Nation," among others. He continues to tour all over the world and has performed in front of sold out crowds at the Hammersmith Apollo in London and the Sydney Opera House in Australia. Noah is represented by LEG, CAA, and Morris Yorn.

Trevor Noah

The Daily Show airs Monday-Thursday at 11:00 p.m. and repeats at 1:00 a.m. the same night and at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. the following day (all times ET/PT). Full episodes are posted for streaming at TheDailyShow.cc.com and on the Comedy Central App.