Talk show legend David Letterman claims retirement after 33-year run is like ‘punch to the head’
Veteran host stands down after 33 years at the helm of the Late Show
The longest-serving night-time talk show host in US TV with over 6,000 shows to his name, 68-year-old Letterman has been honoured with media tributes and by a host of celebrities.
Last week, his parade of A-list guests included Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Adam Sandler, Al Pacino and Bill Clinton.
"I'm naked and afraid," Letterman told CBS on Sunday, half seriously, half joking.
"Any enormous uprooting change in my life has petrified me," he said. But once through the other side "the reward has been unimaginable".
His , which airs in the US at 11.35pm every weeknight, is a once-unique blend of comedy, news monologue, celebrity interviews and oddball comedy.
Sarcastic, at times angry and scathing, Letterman is noted for an unpredictable, uncompromising attitude. Some celebrities feared him, and the fact they could end up in his sights.
He won 12 and features on lists of the most popular people in American television history.
After the horror of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US, Letterman was the first comedian to go back on air - six days after the al-Qaeda hijackings that killed around 3,000 people.
In January 2000, he underwent a quintuple heart bypass. Five weeks later, he was back on air with his doctors at the as guests.
In 2009, he admitted to affairs with female staff and apologised on air. He kept his job.
But over the years, he lost audience to the show with Leno, figures dropping from 7.1 million viewers in 1993-94 to 2.8 million in 2009 when Leno, three years younger, left.
In August, Jon Stewart, 52, is also stepping down from on Comedy Central, to be replaced by South African comedian Trevor Noah, 31.
Letterman, who announced his intention to retire last year, will be replaced from September 8 by Stephen Colbert, 51, who until last December hosted the .
"They didn't push me out," Letterman told . "I'm 68. If I was 38, I'd probably still be wanting to do the show. When Jay was on ... I thought, this is still viable - an older guy in a suit. And then he left, and I suddenly was surrounded by the Jimmys."
Married to long-time companion Regina and the father of 11-year-old Harry, he says he has nothing lined up for retirement, which he has compared to a "punch to the head".
