Tony Blair, the former prime minister of Britain, will take a break from seeking peace in the Middle East to trade jokes with comedian David Letterman on his first ever Late Show guest appearance next week, U.S. network CBS said on Wednesday.

The prime minister of Britain from 1997 to 2007, Blair is coming to the United States to begin the second year of a teaching engagement at Yale University and will appear on Letterman's late-night talk show on Tuesday, September 8.

Letterman has hosted many political figures, including President Barack Obama during his run for the White House, and his former Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain.

Since leaving the prime minister's office, Blair has worked for Middle East peace on behalf of the Quartet of the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia.

Blair will share the Late Show stage with actress Julianna Margulies