David Letterman, the longest-serving host in U.S. late night television, the original host of Late Night (NBC) and The Late Show (CBS), is returning to television for a new series for Netflix. The yet-to-be-named, six-episode series has Letterman combining two interests for which he is renowned: in-depth conversations with extraordinary people, and in-the-field segments expressing his curiosity and humor. In each hour-long episode, Letterman will conduct a long-form conversation with a singular guest, and will also explore topics on his own, away from the studio. The series is set to premiere in 2018. Here's what David Letterman had to say in a statement.

"I feel excited and lucky to be working on this project for Netflix. Here's what I have learned, if you retire to spend more time with your family, check with your family first. Thanks for watching, drive safely."

The project is being produced by RadicalMedia, the Academy Award and Emmy-winning company behind Netflix's What Happened, Miss Simone?, Oh Hello on Broadway and Abstract: The Art of Design, and Letterman's Worldwide Pants. Here's what Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer, Netflix, had to say in his statement.

"Just meeting David Letterman was a thrill; imagine how exciting it is for me to announce that we will be working together. David Letterman is a true television icon, and I can't wait to see him out in the wild, out from behind the desk and interviewing the people he finds most interesting. We'll have to see if he keeps the beard."

In 33 years on late-night television, David Letterman hosted 6,028 episodes of Late Night (NBC) and The Late Show (CBS), and is the longest-running late-night broadcaster in American history. As a writer, performer and producer, Letterman is one of the most-nominated individuals in Emmy Award history, with 52 nominations, resulting in 10 wins. Letterman is also a two-time Peabody-Award winner, a Kennedy Center Honoree, and will receive the Mark Twain Prize in October.

From his roots in comedy, Letterman also became renowned as an interviewer, sharing the stage with U.S. presidents, cabinet officials, Medal of Honor recipients, and virtually every presidential candidate for more than 20 years. Through his guest interviews, Letterman also brought to light important global issues such as world hunger and climate change. Letterman announced his departure from The Late Show in 2014, and aired his final episode on May 20, 2015 to an audience of 13.76 million people. Stephen Colbert took over as The Late Show host in the fall of 2015, replacing the iconic David Letterman. Since his retirement, David Letterman has served as the executive producer for an upcoming documentary entitled The Industrial Musicals Movie, which he is also featured in alongside Martin Short, the late Florence Henderson and Jello Biafra. The Netflix streaming service has yet to announce who his first guests may be, but it very well may be a star-studded affair, although we won't know for sure until the lineup is revealed when we get closer to the 2018 premiere of this David Letterman Netflix Series. David Letterman resides in New York with his wife Regina and son Harry.