NBC Nightly News confirms new host after Lester Holt quit

Tom Llamas has been confirmed as the new host of NBC Nightly News, replacing Lester Holt.  

The former ABC News anchor had long been touted as Holt’s successor, and confirmed he would be the one stepping in to succeed him on Wednesday.

Llamas, 45, did so in a statement delivered a little over a week after Holt’s exit on February 24, calling it ‘a profound honor’ to be the one to step into Holt’s shoes. 

DailyMail.com previously reported that NBC’s senior Washington correspondent Hallie Jackson had also wanted the job, causing the two correspondents to become employed in a war of nerves to convince bosses they were the perfect fit for the job.  

Llamas has now emerged as the victor, and will continue to host his old show Top Story with Tom Llamas on NBC News NOW, the network’s streaming service.

Bosses were already said to be fearful that Llamas may not have the gravitas or popularity to assume such a position, at a time where World News Tonight already rakes in nearly 2million more sets of eyes nightly.

Still, Llamas appeared confident while confirming the promotion in his statement.

‘I look forward to working with the world class journalists at “Nightly News” and “Top Story” to bring viewers the most important stories every night,’ he wrote, before receiving some recognition from his network.

‘Tom has the winning combination of journalistic excellence, passionate storytelling and unyielding integrity — all characteristics that have long been trademarks of NBC Nightly News,’ NBC News executive vice president of programming Janelle Rodriguez said. 

‘Additionally, he’s been instrumental in growing NBC News NOW into the leading streaming news network, helping to introduce NBC News to a new generation of viewers,’ she went on, in a written notice sent around 30 Rock Wednesday.

Developing story, check back for updates…