<text>  He joined The Daily Show as a correspondent only three months ago. But now, Trevor Noah has reportedly emerged as the frontrunner to replace host Jon Stewart. The 31-year-old South African comedian has apparently been named on a short list of potential successors to Stewart, 52, who will step down from his role on the Comedy Central show this year. He is being considered for an integral position on the program, a source close to the matter told Variety magazine. However, no final decision has yet been reached by network executives. Scroll down for video . Replacement? Trevor Noah left joined The Daily Show as a correspondent three months ago. But now, he has reportedly emerged as the frontrunner to replace the Comedy Central programs host Jon Stewart right Shortlisted: The 31-year-old South African comedian pictured in 2012 has apparently been named on a short list of potential successors to Stewart, 52, who will step down from his role on the show this year . According to the source, Comedy Centrals efforts to select a replacement for Stewart - who has hosted the satirical news show for a staggering 16 years - have gained speed in recent days. Last month, shortly after Stewart revealed his plans to step down from his role, company executive Doug Herzog confirmed that a short list of possible replacements had already been put together. He added that the channel and Stewart were consulting on when he will depart his job, as well as discussing whether he will have continue to have a role with the show he has hosted since 1999. When asked about a possible future role, Herzog, 55, the president of Viacom Entertainment Group, replied TBD, meaning to be determined. He then added: Its not out of the question. If Noah - who is no stranger to tackling controversial issues on-air - replaces Stewart on The Daily Show this year, he will be joining a primarily white, male and straight late night show landscape. At present, Comedy Central is the only network to have an African-American host: Larry Wilmore, A network spokesman declined to tell Variety whether Noah was being considered for Stewarts job. No stranger to controversy: During his initial appearance on The Daily Show last December, Noah pictured during the broadcast used his mixed-race heritage and politics to amuse viewers. Referring to protests in the US over alleged police brutality, he told Stewart that his arms were tired from constantly holding them up Thorny issues: I never thought Id be more afraid of police in America than in South Africa, he said, adding: It kind of makes me a little nostalgic for the old days back home. He also riffed on Ebola with Stewart . Noah, who grew up in Gauteng, started his entertainment career at 18 on the South African soap opera, Isidingo. He shortly began hosting his own radio show on the regions main youth station. Now, he is a well-known TV personality in the country, with his stand-up shows often selling out. In 2012, Noah became the first South African stand-up comedian to feature on NBCs The Tonight Show. The following year, he became the first to appear on CBSs Late Show With David Letterman. During his initial appearance on The Daily Show last December, the comedian, whose mother is a black South African and father is a white Swiss, discussed race and politics to amuse viewers. Referring to protests across the United States over alleged police brutality, he told Stewart his arms were tired because he had been constantly holding them up since he had arrived in America. Positive: Over the past 24 hours, people across the country have been taking to social media to express their views on Noah as the potential new host of The Daily Show, with many deeming it great news pictured A great addition: Briton Tim Browning tweeted Noah, asking: Any truth to rumour about the daily show? Hopeful: A Twitter user called Sarah said she hoped so badly the comedian would be named the new host . I never thought Id be more afraid of police in America than in South Africa, he said, adding: It kind of makes me a little nostalgic for the old days back home. He also riffed on Ebola with Stewart. And he challenged the host to game of Spot The Africa, featuring snapshots of America and Africa. Following the article in Variety, people across the country have taken to social media to express their views on Noah as the potential new host of The Daily Show, with many deeming it great news. Twitter user Andrej Novak wrote: Trevornoah didnt appear much on TheDailyShow, but from what we could see, he looks like a great replacement. Show must go on. Meanwhile, a British man named Tim Browning tweeted Noah, asking him: Any truth to rumour about the daily show? He added: Good luck. I think you would be a great addition! Appearance: In 2012, Noah became the first South African stand-up comedian to feature on NBCs The Tonight Show pictured. In 2013, he became the first to appear on CBSs Late Show With David Letterman . Departure: Stewarts pictured departure was announced by Comedy Central President Michele Ganeless after the host broke the news to the studio audience at a taping in New York at the beginning of February . And a user called Sarah said she hoped so badly that the comedian would be named the new host. In addition to being the shows host, Stewart is currently also an executive producer. His firm, Busboy Productions, produces The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, which replaced The Colbert Report. It is unclear whether the short list includes former The Daily Show correspondent John Oliver, who moved over to HBO after successfully filling in for Stewart when he took a movie-making break. Asked about whether Oliver is a candidate last month, Herzogs reply was succinct. John Olivers got a job, he said, later adding: I think hes spoken for. Another obvious candidate for the role - the veteran The Daily Show contributor Samantha Bee - has apparently been ruled out after accepting a deal to start a program at Time Warners TBS. Her husband, Jason Jones, is heading to TBS with her. And correspondent Jessica Williams has deemed herself extremely under-qualified for Stewarts position, Entertainment Weekly reported. Whoever is chosen as replacement on the program has heavy lifting to do. Stewart, who grew up in New York City, is expected to leave his role at some point between July and the end of the year. Its not easy. The shadow of Jon Stewart is going to loom large. What you have to get comfortable with is, its just not going to be Jon Stewart. And its going to be different, Herzog told AP. Still to be decided: The Daily Show contributors Samantha Bee and Jason Jones left have apparently been ruled out as possible replacements after accepting a deal to start a program at Time Warners TBS. Right, TV executive Doug Herzog, 55, said whether Stewart will have a future role on the show is to be determined He added that, whatever happens, The Daily Show is a format thats built to last, and last it will. Stewarts departure was announced by Comedy Central President Michele Ganeless after the host broke the news to the studio audience at a taping in New York at the beginning of February. This show doesnt deserve an even slightly restless host, and neither do you, Stewart told the audience, blinking back tears. Im gonna have dinner, on a school night, with my family, he added. Ganeless called Stewart a comic genius. But she did not say what led to his decision to leave. The revelation sparked a huge reaction online, prompting Stewart, who has amassed 19 Emmys, to joke: Last night I was perusing the internet, and I guess my question to you is, Did I die? 