United Kingdom, July 23 -- Jimmy Kimmel offered Stephen Colbert a return to late night but it felt "premature".

The 58-year-old talk show star is on his summer break with a rotation of guests hosts stepping in, including the likes of Colman Domingo, Tiffany Haddish, Ike Barinholtz, Rosie O'Donnell and Jelly Holl, while the former Late Show icon politely declined a spot on Jimmy Kimmel Live! so soon after his own CBS programme was cancelled.

Kimmel told Variety: "Of course, I asked him, and I think it feels premature.

"But I told him, 'Anytime you want to host, it doesn't matter if it's the summer, I'll gladly step aside.' "

Kimmel's ratings hit a record high with an average of 3.15 million viewers, which is the best ever monthly audie...