It’s well known that Americans are hard-working people who have far less annual holidays than us and their country doesn’t close down for two weeks during the Christmas/New Year period.  They don’t even have Boxing Day in their calendars!

Hollywood folk famously have dinner (very rarely pie and chips) at six pm and are in bed by eight.

Having established Americans are so career-focused, it’s puzzling that over there, late-night TV talk shows that go out at 11.30 pm, Monday to Friday, have been popular since The Tonight Show was hosted by Steve Allen in the 1950s followed bv Johnny Carson (for 30 memorable years) and currently Jimmy Fallon.

Some talk shows even start at 12. 30 am, like the Late Late Show with James Corden. He’s become a major star in America so people must be staying up late, late to watch him.

Where do people get the energy to come home from work, stay up to 1.30 am and then get up early next morning to face the commute from the suburbs into the city?  Beats me!

It’s safe to say five nights a week late-night talk shows and late-night hosts, however personable, witty or ‘on the ball’ they are, have never quite appealed to British audiences, although it’s been tried many times.

Most recently, the multi-talented Bradley Walsh made a valiant attempt at hosting a ‘live’ late-night show five nights a week – but it only had a short run.

Having said that, if any TV producers are looking for someone ‘personable, witty and on the ball’ to host a new late-night talk show…you know who to ask.  No! Not Owen Money! Me!

One reason that’s given for the failure of British late-night talk shows is that in LA or New York, broadcasters have an unending supply of big-name guests willing to plug their new film, TV show or album.  But I have my own theory…

I think most working Brits switch off their tellies after the ten ’o’ clock news, make a hot drink, head upstairs to finish the crossword in bed and switch off the light at 11.17 precisely.  Or is that just me?