US talk show host David Letterman announces retirement on Late Show

David Letterman made his announcement during the recording of the show Credit: Late Show/CBS

Legendary US talk show host David Letterman has revealed that he will retire from his programme next year.

A clip of his announcement was uploaded to the Late Show YouTube channel:

Former REM bassist Mike Mills, present at the recording of the show, tweeted earlier:

President Barack Obama also joined tributes saying:

Letterman was know for his top ten lists on the show.

Letterman, 66, began hosting the show on CBS in August 1993, after leaving the rival NBC network, where he had hosted the Late Night with David Letterman show for many years.

News of Letterman's plans to retire came nearly two months after Jay Leno bid farewell as host of NBC's The Tonight Show, a job Leno assumed in 1992 in a highly publicized succession of Johnny Carson that led to Letterman's defection from CBS.

NBC News tweeted a transcript of the Letterman's comments.

Jimmy Kimmel, host of rival show Jimmy Kimmel Live on ABC, tweeted: