Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
John Oliver joined Last Week Tonight in April 2014 after leaving The Daily Show
HBO has commissioned two more series of Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, quashing rumours that the comedian may replace Jon Stewart on The Daily Show.
Oliver launched Last Week Tonight in 2014 after seven years as one of Stewart’s sidekicks on The Daily Show.
He was mentioned as a possible new Daily Show host after Stewart announced last week that he is to stand down.
But the new HBO deal means Oliver will present 35 episodes of Last Week Tonight per year in 2016 and ’17.
The announcement comes three days after his late-night chat show won the Writers Guild of America award for best comedy/variety series.
Oliver rose to fame after joining The Daily Show as its Senior British Correspondent in 2006.
In 2013, he stood in for Stewart for eight weeks while the host was shooting a film. Oliver received positive reviews, with some critics suggesting he should eventually succeed Stewart.
Last Week Tonight’s writers (pictured with comedian Robert Klein, right) picked up the Writers Guild award
‘Comedic brilliance’
Other possible contenders to replace Stewart include Tina Fey, Jessica Williams and Amy Poehler.
“We are incredibly proud to have John as part of the HBO family,” HBO president Michael Lombardo said.
“His unique ability to deliver socially significant commentary week after week, along with his innate comedic brilliance, puts John in a class by himself.”
In the first season of Last Week Tonight, which ended last November, Oliver covered topics including net neutrality, Uganda’s anti-LGBT laws, Miss America, climate change and civil forfeiture abuse by the police.
The second series of 35 episodes began earlier this month. The show is produced by the US arm of Britain’s Avalon Television, and airs on Sky Atlantic in the UK.
BBC