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David Letterman announces he will be retiring in 2015

The broadcaster told the audience during filming on his show

Neela Debnath
Friday 04 April 2014 11:42 BST
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David Letterman will be bowing out of his late night talk show next year
David Letterman will be bowing out of his late night talk show next year

After more than 20 years of interviewing the stars, US talk show host David Letterman has said that he will be retiring in 2015.

The news was broken by REM bassist Mike Mills, who was performing on the show with the band.

Mills tweeted to his followers: "Dave just announced his retirement #2015 #muchlovedave".    

According to the New York Daily News, Letterman made the announcement during filming of the Late Show with David Letterman on Thursday, telling the audience he wanted to spend more time with his family.

He said: "I just want to reiterate my thanks for the support from the network, all of the people who have worked here, all of the people in the theatre, all the people on the staff, everybody at home, thank you very much. What this means now, is that Paul and I can be married," in reference to the Late Show's long-time band leader, Paul Shaffer.

Although he did not say exactly when he would be stepping down, the legendary talk show king said it would be in the "not too distant future."  

Letterman has been presenting the Late Show with David Letterman since 1993 on CBS, making him one of the longest-serving chat show hosts in US history.

The 66-year-old American broadcaster has interviewed everyone from Madonna to Harrison Ford to Jennifer Lawrence.

His most memorable interview was with Drew Barrymore in 1995, the actress climbed onto a table and flashed her breasts at the unsuspecting host.

Recent interviews that have left celebrities cringing, include Letterman’s awkward encounter with Lindsay Lohan last year and his no holds barred interrogation of Paris Hilton and her time in prison back in 2007.

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