John Oliver: Jon Stewart's Daily Show understudy lands his own show with HBO

Birmingham-born comic will front satirical news programme on Sunday evenings

John Oliver has now landed his own show with the premier US network HBO (Getty Images)

John Oliver, the British comedian who wowed audiences when he filled in for Jon Stewart, The Daily Show presenter, has now been rewarded with his own weekly US satirical show.

The Birmingham-born comic will quit The Daily Show, where he found fame as Stewart’s sidekick, to front his own show on HBO.

Oliver, who became The Daily Show’s “senior British correspondent” in 2006, won plaudits when he took over from Stewart for three months this summer, when the host was away directing a film.

Oliver, 36, is the latest British comic to be snapped up by HBO, the US cable network which has previously developed shows with Sacha Baron Cohen, Armando Iannucci and Stephen Merchant.

Oliver’s show, described as “a satirical look at the week in news, politics and current events”, starts next year.

He said: “I’m incredibly excited to be joining HBO, especially as I presume this means I get free HBO now. I want to thank Comedy Central, and everyone at The Daily Show for the best seven and a half years of my life.

“But most of all, I’d like to thank Jon Stewart. He taught me everything I know. In fact, if I fail in the future, it’s entirely his fault.”

Michael Lombardo, president of HBO Programming, said: “We weren't otherwise searching for another weekly talk show, but when we saw John Oliver handling host duties on The Daily Show we knew that his singular perspective and distinct voice belonged on HBO. We are extremely excited that John has agreed to make HBO his home.”

Oliver had received a number of offers to present his own series after his summer success on the Comedy Central show. HBO said his new show would air on Sundays, its feature night for original programming.

A contemporary of David Mitchell in the Cambridge Footlights troupe, Oliver first came to public attention in the UK as a stand-up comedian on the festival circuit.

He currently has a recurring role on NBC’s cult comedy Community as a psychology professor, as well as hosting a stand-up series on Comedy Central.

He and long-time collaborator Andy Zaltzman co-write the weekly satirical podcast The Bugle.

Oliver believes he got the call from The Daily Show following a recommendation from Ricky Gervais. His persona, which he described as a “monstrous asshole”, is often dispatched on field trips and interview assignments to satirise the stories of the day.

He regularly pokes fun at his country of birth. During his Daily Show hosting stint, he considered the reaction of hyperbolic Royal commentators if the Duchess of Cambridge had given birth to a girl instead of a boy. “Damnation upon your cursed womb, Catherine! Burn the princess for she has produced a baby of the weaker sex!”

Oliver had been touted as a future host of The Daily Show, whenever Stewart decides to quit, following the positive audience reaction to his performance as substitute presenter. But his departure is a blow to the Comedy Central series, which must now discover a replacement sidekick.

The Daily Show has previously launched the careers of political satirist Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell, the comedy actor.

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Sacha Baron Cohen

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Stephen Merchant

Ricky Gervais’ Extras sidekick and Office co-creator secured his own sitcom on HBO. Hello Ladies, which premiered in September, follows the woeful love-life of Merchant’s gawky Englishman relocated to LA.

Russell Brand

Escaping UK scandal to launch a Hollywood career, Brand’s breakthrough role in Get Him To The Greek led to his own late-night Fox talk show, whilst his relationship with Katy Perry fascinated US tabloids.

Hugh Laurie

Hollywood’s highest-paid TV drama actor when medical drama House bowed out after eight hit years, Laurie’s US accent defied his screen roots as Stephen Fry’s partner in their long-running comedy double act.

Armando Iannucci

Failed attempts to translate The Thick Of It to US networks eventually spawned Emmy-winning paydirt with Veep, the HBO sitcom starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, which replicates the Beltway knowledge and acerbic wit of its UK precursor.