Yang Tian
(BBC) – Stephen Colbert signed off the final episode of The Late Show with special guest Sir Paul McCartney, bringing the programme’s historic 33-year run to an end.
On Thursday night’s show, Sir Paul and Colbert reminisced about past appearances at New York’s Ed Sullivan Theater by The Beatles, and memories of the band touring the US.
The pair closed with a performance of Hello, Goodbye, as The Late Show’s crew and staff gathered on stage to take their final bows.
CBS announced the surprise cancellation of The Late Show in July last year, with Colbert hosting 11 seasons after taking over from David Letterman, who had fronted the late-night comedy show since its launch in 1993.
Colbert opened the show with his usual monologue, telling the audience it was going to be business as usual instead of a “special” farewell episode.
Throughout the episode, there was much speculation over who would be Colbert’s final guest.
Actors Bryan Cranston, Paul Rudd and Ryan Reynolds were among several celebrity cameos who came out vying for the honour, only to be told they did not make the cut.
A devout Catholic, Colbert had long said he would like to have Pope Leo XIV for his last interview.
