US talk show host Stephen Colbert has condemned the cancellation of fellow late-night star Jimmy Kimmel as a "blatant assault on freedom of speech".

He used the opening of Thursday night's edition of his Late Show to address the pulling of Jimmy Kimmel Live, over comments he made about the assassination of the right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk.

The move by Disney-owned ABC has been widely criticised, with the network accused of kowtowing to President Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, Jon Stewart, host of the Comedy Central's Daily Show, appeared in a garish gold set, in parody of Mr Trump's redesign of the White House, to tell viewers the episode would be "another fun, hilarious administration-compliant show".

Stewart, playing the role of an over-the-top, politically obsequious TV host

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