Another one hits the road! Craig Ferguson announced Monday, April 28, that he has decided to step down as the host CBS' The Late Late Show in December 2014. The TV personality broke the news to his studio audience Monday afternoon while taping his show.
"CBS and I are not getting divorced, we are 'consciously uncoupling,'" Ferguson said Monday, referring to Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin's split terminology. "But we will still spend holidays together and share custody of the fake horse and robot skeleton, both of whom we love very much," Ferguson added.
The late-night host took over the Late Late Show back in January 2005, succeeding Craig Kilborn. Ferguson's future with the network was widely speculated after David Letterman announced his retirement earlier this month, and Stephen Colbert was tapped as the Late Show host's successor. It was revealed that a clause in Ferguson's contract—set to expire this summer—would lead to a whopping $8 million-$10 million payout after CBS went with Colbert instead.
Since the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson debuted in 2005, the show has won a Peabody Award (in 2009), and Ferguson himself received an Emmy nod in 2006.
There appeared to be no bad blood between Ferguson and Colbert, after the Late Late Show host tweeted congratulations to Letterman's successor. CBS Entertainment chair Nina Tassler gushed of Ferguson's accomplishments Monday in a statement released by the network. "During his 10 years as host, Craig has elevated CBS to new creative and competitive heights at 12:30," Tassler said. "He infused the broadcast with tremendous energy, unique comedy, insightful interviews and some of the most heartfelt monologues seen on television."
Ferguson's broadcast will air at 12:37 EST.
