Craig Ferguson on The Late Late Show exit: 'I feel like I'm done'

Host will leave chat show in December

Ferguson described his departure as a 'conscious uncoupling'

CBS's late night line-up has lost another key figure just weeks after David Letterman retired, with Craig Ferguson confirming that he will be stepping down from The Late Late Show after a decade.

The Scottish host said he had been planning the announcement for some time but had to push it back after the big Letterman news.

"It wasn’t contentious. I was just like, ‘I feel like I’m done,'" he told Variety. “We were all fine and were tying up loose ends. And then Dave surprised everybody with the (3 April) announcement and that threw a spanner in the works. And I had to sit and keep my mouth shut while speculation raged wildly."

Ferguson insists that Letterman's retirement had nothing to do with his decision however, which he made back in the summer.

"It’s an inevitable thing when David announced his retirement, people are going to say ‘Oh he’s leaving because of that.’" He added. "No matter what I say or what I do, they’re gonna say that. Well they can say what they like. It’s America. I understand."

While Stephen Colbert is to take the reins of The Late Show, there is now word yet on who will assume hosting duties on The Late Late Show, with Ferguson not due to step down until December.

He said in a statement: "CBS and I are not getting divorced, we are ‘consciously uncoupling,’ but we will still spend holidays together and share custody of the fake horse and robot skeleton, both of whom we love very much."

CBS chair Nina Tassler added: "During his 10 years as host, Craig has elevated CBS to new creative and competitive heights at 12:30.

"He infused the broadcast with tremendous energy, unique comedy, insightful interviews and some of the most heartfelt monologues seen on television. Craig’s versatile talents as a writer, producer, actor and comedian speak to his great days ahead.

"While we’ll miss Craig and can’t thank him enough for his contributions to both the show and the Network, we respect his decision to move on, and we look forward to celebrating his final broadcasts during the next eight months."