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 The Viacom Inc-owned network said it selected Noah, 31,
because he is an "enormous talent" and "wickedly funny." His
premiere will be announced at a later date.
Hailing from the township of Soweto, Noah joined "The Daily Show
with Jon Stewart" as a contributor in late 2014. He said it was
an honor to step into Stewart's shoes.
"He and the team at 'The Daily Show' have created an incredible
show whose impact is felt over the world," Noah said in a
statement. "I'm excited to get started and work with such a
fantastic group of people."
South Africans celebrated Noah's big step up, saying his talents
will appeal to a global audience and he will change people's
perceptions of their country, which is still grappling with the
legacy of apartheid-era human rights abuses.
"Over the years, Mr. Noah has proved that laughter is the best
medicine and has helped our country and its people to find
healing through laughing at themselves," said Minister of Arts
and Culture Nathi Mthethwa.
Noah's appointment marks the second major handover at the comedy
cable network. Larry Wilmore took over Stephen Colbert's time
slot in January after he left the network to succeed David
Letterman, who is retiring in May as the host of CBS
Television's "Late Show."
But Noah is younger than the middle-aged Wilmore, Colbert and
Stewart, who said last month he was giving up the gig but gave
no clues about his next career move.
Stewart was 36 when he became the host of show in 1999. During
his long tenure, the show, which airs weeknights at 11 p.m. and
averages slightly more than a million viewers each night, became
influential in U.S. politics and culture.
"Very excited to welcome our next host: @Trevornoah! That's
right - another guy in late night from Soweto," Stewart said on
Twitter.
EXPLORING IDENTITY
Noah, who was born to a black South African mother and white
Swiss father, made his mixed race a big part of his comedy.
During his childhood under apartheid laws, blacks and whites
were prohibited from living together.
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"They had me, which was illegal, so I was born a crime," he said in
one of his comedy routines.
Noah made his U.S. television debut in 2012 on "The Tonight Show
with Jay Leno." He also appeared in a one-man show, "The Racist," at
the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe festival in Scotland and was the subject
of an award-winning documentary film, "You Laugh But It's True,"
about his career in post-apartheid South Africa.
In the 2013 special "Trevor Noah: African American," which is
available on Netflix and DVD, he explored his sense of identity and
coming to America.
In one of his stand-up routines, he talked about learning to be
black in America, only to be misidentified as a Mexican once he
arrived.
South African ventriloquist Conrad Koch said it was a huge
breakthrough for a comedian from the African country to make it on
the international stage.
"It portrays South Africans as forward thinking, intelligent,
progressive and in touch with the world," he said. "It shows how
stand up is becoming more and more relevant."
Koch's puppet, Chester Missing, said he hoped the comedian would
deliver one of the episodes in Xhosa, Noah's home language.
A South African fan of Noah, Akhona Sihlobo @AkhonaSihlobo,
tweeted: "I have never watched The Daily Show. But as soon as @Trevornoah
officially starts, I'm there."
(Additional reporting by Helen Nyambura-Mwaura in Johannesburg;
Editing by Mary Milliken, Meredith Mazzilli and Cynthia Osterman)
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