Jeff Douglas was named the new co-host of CBC Radio's As It Happens on Wednesday. The actor and TV presenter will join host Carol Off in studio beginning Jan. 4. (CBC)

Actor and presenter Jeff Douglas, best known for delivering the patriotic, but polite, rant in Molson's "I am Canadian" advertising campaign, is the new co-host of CBC Radio's As It Happens.

The Nova Scotia-born, Toronto-based Douglas will join journalist and broadcaster Carol Off on the long-running weekday current affairs program beginning Jan. 4, the public broadcaster announced on Wednesday.

"Jeff brings a wealth of experience to the role — from his documentary work and his performance attributes, to his ability to really connect with Canadians and share stories from around the world," Denise Donlon, CBC Radio's general manager, said in a statement.

"I am fascinated by the format of co-hosting a show like As it Happens — there are endless possibilities to telling stories through the simple act of picking up the phone," Douglas said, adding that the new job offered "a great new opportunity."

An occasional As It Happens guest co-host in the past, Douglas has appeared on TV in different capacities, aside from his "Joe Canadian" spots for Molson's.

He hosted lifestyle and documentary programs on specialty networks like History Television and National Geographic, including series such as Working Over Time, Things That Move, Ancestors in the Attic and Making History.

Douglas has also worked as an actor for children's programming, such as Strange Days at Blake Holsey High and The Famous Jett Jackson.

Several guest hosts have shared the studio with Off this year since the departure in the spring of Barbara Budd, who co-hosted As It Happens for 17 years. At the time, CBC expressed a desire to feature hosts with a journalism background.

With files from The Canadian Press