Stephen Colbert breaks silence on emotional 'Late Show' exit
Stephen Colbert swaps Hollywood farewell for family wedding
Stephen Colbert has admitted CBS may actually have “saved” him by pulling the plug on The Late Show, as the comedian prepares to wave goodbye to late-night TV for good this week.
The 62-year-old host, who took over from David Letterman back in 2015, is set to front the final-ever episode of the legendary chat show after CBS confirmed last year it was axing the long-running programme.
And while fans were stunned by the decision, Stephen now appears surprisingly at peace with it all.
Speaking candidly to People magazine, the TV star confessed the demanding schedule had taken its toll over the years.
he said, “You can't do this forever. You have to think about when is the right time to end your tenure. I didn't think this soon, but who knows?
“Maybe CBS saved my life because it takes a lot of bone marrow to do the show every day.”
Stephen added that stepping away now means he still has “enough energy” left to pursue other projects and enjoy life outside the studio spotlight.
But instead of planning a lavish Hollywood farewell, the comic revealed he’ll spend his very first day after The Late Show ends at a family wedding in Washington D.C.
In a touching twist, all eight of his brothers and sisters, along with their partners, will attend the final show before boarding a train together for brother Tommy’s big day.
He joked the shift in attention will come as a relief.
“The focus is not on me, focus is on my brother. So much better,” he laughed.
“We'll get drunk and we'll sing. We all think we have good voices. That's the great danger of our family.”
When announcing the show’s cancellation in 2025, Stephen emotionally thanked viewers around the world for their loyalty and support throughout his decade-long run.
