Alec Baldwin to host late night talk show

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-23985024

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Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin has been signed up to host a weekly current events and culture talk show on the US cable news channel MSNBC.

The show, Up Late With Alex Baldwin, will air in October.

"I've been talking with Alec for a while and can't wait to bring his personality and eclectic interests to MSNBC," said network head Phil Griffin.

Baldwin recently ended his role on NBC's 30 Rock as fictional network executive Jack Donaghy.

The role earned him Golden Globe, Emmy and Screen Actors Guild awards.

Baldwin has hosted the popular NBC sketch show Saturday Night Live 16 times, and co-hosted the Academy Awards with Steve Martin in 2010.

He has also been presenting a regular radio podcast for New York's WNYC, interviewing celebrities and cultural figures including Michael Douglas, David Letterman and Girls creator Lena Dunham.

"After two seasons of my WNYC podcast, I've developed a fondness for hosting a show that involved talking with smart, talented and engaging people in every imaginable field," Baldwin said.

"I'm grateful to MSNBC for helping me bring a similar show to television," he added.

Baldwin will be up against Bill Maher, another outspoken liberal personality, whose HBO show Real Time with Bill Maher also airs at 22:00 EST.

"[Baldwin's] got such passion for ideas and what's going on in the world, he's going to be a great addition to our line-up," added Mr Griffin.