(GettyImages.com)

It’s official: Piers Morgan is taking over for Larry King.

CNN made the announcement on Wednesday.

One of television’s worst-kept secrets for months, the transition to Morgan after King ends his “Larry King Live” run will occur in January, says the network.

According to CNN, the primetime show will be a “candid, in-depth newsmaker interview program.”

“Piers has made his name posing tough questions to public figures, holding them accountable for their words and deeds,” said CNN president Jon Klein. “He is able to look at all aspects of the news with style and humor with an occasional good laugh in the process.”

British TV personality Morgan is best known to American audiences as a judge on “America’s Got Talent.”

Meanwhile, there have been rumblings that King’s pal Ryan Seacrest could help re-launch King’s radio career after he departs CNN.

Follow @GossipCop on Twitter for accurate celebrity news!

Check us out on Facebook!

Visit GossipCop.com for the latest!