Jimmy Kimmel has been selected to deliver Channel 4’s Alternative Christmas Message, a decision that might take fans by surprise as he follows UK stars including Chris McCausland and Stephen Fry.
In his message, the US TV star will talk about fascism after causing uproar among the Donald Trump administration this year.
Trump has repeatedly called for the talk show host, 58, to be fired after he was vocally critical of the US Government and its supporters numerous times.
Kimmel has clapped back in a similar fashion, recently quipping to the US President that ‘he’ll go when Trump goes’ and that they could ‘be a team.’
In the Channel 4 Christmas message, which will air at 5.45pm on Christmas Day, Kimmel will reflect on his turbulent year, which saw him suspended from ABC and then later reinstated.
In his speech, he will say: ‘From a fascism perspective, this has been a really great year.’
Following the broadcast of his final Jimmy Kimmel Live episode of the year last week, the host will also reflect on the hardships he has faced in the last 12 months.
During the final episode of his talkshow, which aired lastweek, he said: ‘This has been a strange year. It’s been a hard year.
‘We’ve had some lows, we’ve had some highs. For me, maybe more than any year in my life.’
Tearing up, he continued: ‘But on behalf of all of us — I’m crying already, I’m sorry. On behalf of all of us at the show, I just want to say that we appreciate your support, your enthusiasm.
‘And not just for watching. This year you literally pulled us out of a hole, and we cannot thank you enough, personally, professionally.’
He went on to urge his US viewers to inform their friends outside of the US about the political climate and attitude within the country.
‘It’s important that we as Americans let our friends in other countries who watch the show on YouTube, on Instagram, Hulu, wherever, know that a lot of us are not okay with what is happening,’ he went on.
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Why was Jimmy Kimmel Live taken off air?
Jimmy Kimmel Live was taken off air on September 17, and its host was suspended from ABC, following comments he made in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death.
Conservative influencer Kirk was shot to death in a ‘political assassination’ during a Q&A at Utah Valley University on September 10.
Accused shooter Tyler Robinson, 22, is currently on trial for Kirk’s murder.
Speaking about Robinson, Kimmel said on air: ‘We had some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and with everything they can to score political points from it.’
Calling Kimmel’s comments ‘offensive and insensitive’, Andrew Alford, the president of Nexstar’s broadcasting division, released a statement about its decision prior to the show being pulled.
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‘We do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located,’ he said in a statement.
‘Continuing to give Mr Kimmel a broadcast platform in the communities we serve is simply not in the public interest at the current time, and we have made the difficult decision to pre-empt his show in an effort to let cooler heads prevail as we move toward the resumption of respectful, constructive dialogue.’
After massive backlash over the decision to suspend Kimmel’s show – which saw more than 400 Hollywood stars sign an open letter slamming the move – ABC announced his show would be back.
Announcing the return, a statement from ABC and Disney said: ‘Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country.
‘It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive.
‘We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday.’
‘There is still much more good in this country than bad, and we hope that you will bear with us during this extended psychotic episode that we’re in the middle of.’
Jimmy Kimmel Live was taken off the air earlier this year, and the host was suspended after comments he made regarding Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
The president previously gloated when the show was cancelled, posting on his Truth Social platform at the time: ‘Great News for America: The ratings-challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED.
‘Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done. Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible.’
Less than a week later, ABC confirmed the return of the programme, prompting the president to ask why they wanted ‘someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE.’
The Alternative Christmas Message watch or stream on Channel 4 from 5:45pm on Christmas Day.
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