( CNN ) -- Comedian Craig Ferguson says he 's leaving his gig as host of `` The Late Late Show '' to pursue other projects . `` CBS and I are not getting divorced , we are 'consciously uncoupling , ' '' Ferguson said in a statement released by the network Monday , employing the infamous phrase actress Gwyneth Paltrow used to describe her recent split from singer Chris Martin . `` We will still spend holidays together and share custody of the fake horse and robot skeleton , both of whom we love very much , '' he added . The Scottish-born comic announced his plans to step down as the show 's host in December during a taping of the show Monday . Nina Tassler , chairman of CBS Entertainment , said in a statement that it was Ferguson 's choice to leave . `` We respect his decision to move on , '' she said , `` and we look forward to celebrating his final broadcasts during the next eight months . '' Tassler praised Ferguson 's `` versatile talents as a writer , producer , actor and comedian . '' `` He infused the broadcast with tremendous energy , unique comedy , insightful interviews and some of the most heartfelt monologues seen on television , '' she said . Ferguson has hosted the show since 2005 . When David Letterman announced this month that he would retire from `` The Late Show '' in 2015 , some suggested Ferguson might be the man to replace him . But that job went to Comedy Central funnyman Stephen Colbert .
Ferguson : `` CBS and I are not getting divorced , we are 'consciously uncoupling ' `` The network says it was Ferguson 's decision to move on . The Scottish-born comedian has hosted `` The Late Late Show '' since 2005 . He announced during a taping that he will step down as the show 's host in December .