Steve Carell confirms he is leaving The Office

Carell was recently seen with Tina Fey in film comedy Date Night

Actor Steve Carell has confirmed he will leave the US version of The Office at the end of its 2010-2011 season.

"Yes, it will be my last," he told Us magazine at the Los Angeles premiere of his new animated film Despicable Me.

"It's the last on my contract, and I want to honour my contract," the 47-year-old is quoted as saying.

Carell plays egotistical office manager Michael Scott in the US sitcom, based on the BBC original created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant.

The NBC network has yet to comment on his departure but is reportedly considering whether to continue the show without him.

Carell has starred in The Office since NBC launched its version of the "mockumentary" comedy series in 2005.

He won a Golden Globe for his work in the show in 2006 and was nominated for an Emmy four years running, losing on one occasion to Gervais.

Carell said he expected to be "very nostalgic" towards the end of his tenure, saying his colleagues were "some of my best friends in the world."

"But it will be good," continued the star of Evan Almighty and recent release Date Night. "It will be good for everybody."