Lesbian comic Rosie O’Donnell to host NBC variety show

Lesbian comedienne Rosie O’Donnell is to return to television with her own variety show next month.

Rosie’s Variety Show, a chat, comedy and music programme will be broadcast on NBC the night before Thanksgiving.

The comedienne guest starred in the first episode of Little Britain USA which was broadcast last night on BBC One.

“This will reinvent the idea of what a variety show is for 2008. There’s very few performers willing to put themselves out there live. It makes it more TiVo-proof, and it’s something none of the cable networks can do,” said NBC executive Craig Plestis.

O’Donnell hosted her own talk show between 1996 and 2002.