Scottish comic lands top US TV job

Scottish comic Craig Ferguson has landed one of the most sought-after jobs on late-night American TV.

He is to be the new host of The Late Late Show, which immediately follows David Letterman’s programme on the CBS network every weeknight.

Previous host Craig Kilborn caused a shock earlier this year when he suddenly announced he was quitting the show after five years.

Now it has been announced that he will be succeeded byFerguson, who started his career on the UK stand-up circuit using the  pseudonym Bing Hitler.

In Britain, he had some modest TV shows to his name – including Channel 4’s The Craig Ferguson Story in which his dad was played by Peter Cook and his mum by June Whitfield.

But in 1995  he moved to America to pursue a career, and landed the role of  the boss on The Drew Carey Show sitcom, for which he is still most widely known.

His movie credits include The Big Tease, in which he played a Glaswegian hairdresser and Saving Grace.

But the new show will further boost his profile, even though it regularly trails Conan O’Brien’s rival late-night show on NBC.

He hosts his first regular show on January 3, although he has been one of a number of guests host in recent week.

Ferguson, 42, told the Hollywood Reporter: " Two-and-a-half months ago, I would never have thought in my life about hosting a talk show.

“Now I want to make the show my own. This is an enormous undertaking.

Published: 8 Dec 2004