Jon Stewart announced that he was leaving The Daily Show on Tuesday, and this totally took us by surprise! Because Stewart broke the news at the show's taping, those in the audience were the first to find out.

The 52-year-old comedian has been the anchor of the satirical news program for nearly 17 years, and he started off by saying, "I would imagine as this show is airing, there may be information out there right now that the audience might not be aware of. So I will just tell you... Doug Herzog and Michele Ganeless of Comedy Central gave me an incredible opportunity 17 years ago to pilot this wonderful franchise... 17 years is the longest I have ever in my life held a job by 16 years and five months... In my heart I know, it is time for someone else to have that opportunity."

On what's next, Stewart added, "I don't have any specific plans. I got a lot of ideas. I got a lot of things in my head. I'm gonna have dinner on a school night with my family, who I have heard from multiple sources are lovely people. I'm not gonna be here and try to sum up what this place has meant to me over the years. This show doesn't deserve an easy slightly restless host and neither do you. I don't think I'm going to miss being on television every day, I'm going to miss coming here every day."

Stewart and wife Tracey McShane have two children, and in addition to spending more time with his family, he has been exploring other avenues in the entertainment industry, including directing.

Stewart hasn't revealed when the last show will air, but it's expected to happen later this year.