After seven years being at the helm of a US late-night comedy programme South African comedian Trevor Noah has hosted his last episode of The Daily Show.
In an emotional farewell he gave what he called a “shout out to black women”.
“Who do you think teaches me? Who do you think has shaped me, nourished me, informed me? From my mum, my gran, my aunt – all the black women in my life,” he told the audience.
Noah was relatively unknown in the US when he took over the prestigious satirical programme from Jon Stewart, who had built up a huge following.
In his goodbye monologue, he references the fact that he first found it hard to fill the seats in the studio but over the last seven years, Noah himself has brought in a younger, enthusiastic audience.
He has also offered a more international take on events in the US. During his time as host he has covered the presidency of Donald Trump, the Black Lives Matter protests and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Noah said that it was black women who had taught him most about America as they know that if things go bad then they are the first to suffer.
When he announced his planned departure in September the 38-year-old said: “I remember when we first started… so many people didn’t believe in us… Appointing me as host] was a crazy bet to make. I still think it was a crazy choice, this random African.
“I just [find] myself filled with gratitude for the journey. It’s been absolutely amazing. It’s something that I never expected.”
He got into many arguments over the years of hosting the programme, including one with the French government after he celebrated France’s 2018 World Cup win as an African victory:
