David Letterman back on-the-air January 2

TV legend David Letterman has managed to 'strike' a deal with his striking writers, according to US reports.

Letterman, 60, struck a deal with the union representing the writers, which will see his CBS chat show return January 2 with a full staff.

“I am grateful to the WGA for granting us this agreement. We’re happy to be going back to work, and particularly pleased to be doing it with our writers,” Letterman said in a statement on Friday.

“This is not a solution to the strike, which unfortunately continues to disrupt the lives of thousands. But I hope it will be seen as a step in the right direction.”

Jeff Hermanson - an executive at the Writers Guild of America, told Reuters today (12/28/2007) that the guild and Letterman’s production company, Worldwide Pants, had reached a “full, binding, independent agreement” that will pay scribes for their work that appears on the Internet.

Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien and Jimmy Kimmel will return January 2 without writers.