U.K. Talk Show Star Jonathan Ross to Debut in America

LONDON – U.K. talk show host Jonathan Ross, will debut his talk show The Jonathan Ross Show in the US on DIRECTV's Cinemoi Dec. 24.

our editor recommends

Jonathan Ross Signs New ITV Deal

Jonathan Ross quits the BBC

Cinémoi North America president Daphna Edwards Ziman announced the deal Tuesday.

Ross quit the BBC in 2010 when he was the corporation's highest-paid star, reportedly making about $9 million a year, and took his talk show to commercial web ITV a few months later.

His talk show will premiere with a Christmas Eve special featuring special guests including Michael McIntyre, Sienna Miller,J amie Oliver, Sheridan Smith, Ellie Simmons, Jonnie Peacock and Charlotte Church.

Ziman described Ross's vehicle as an "internationally successful entertainment talk show" describing the erstwhile host as a "sophisticated, humorous and agile host."

"We are excited to introduce him to American viewers," said Ziman, who was behind the US launch of Cinémoi this past September.

From January 2013, The Jonathan Ross Show will air every Saturday night in London and in the U.S.

"ITV and Cinémoi are proud to join forces in launching the Jonathan Ross Show in America." Said Rod Sherwood, CEO of Cinémoi North America.

The cable network gives US viewers access to daily afternoon and evening programming, primarily in English, ranging from CinéDramas to CinéFilmNoir, CinéFestivals, CinéDoc, CinéCouture, CinéGreen, CinéThriller and CinéRomance.

Ross sensationally quit the BBC after 13 years at the beginning of 2010.

The host of BBC1's Friday Night With Jonathan Ross proved to be one of the public broadcaster's most controversial presenters, both for his reputed $9.6 million yearly salary and for his role in the Russell Brand obscene phone calls scandal that saw Ross suspended from BBC airwaves for three months without pay.