Broadcasting: John Oliver - the Brummie who has the last laugh

'The Daily Show' spoof reporter, John Oliver (Getty Images)

Jon Stewart is taking a break from doling out biting political satire on The Daily Show for eight weeks this summer to direct his first film and will be lending his coveted seat to John Oliver. But who is the Brummie comedian who has just landed one of the hottest jobs in US TV comedy?

After getting involved with the British stand-up scene, the Cambridge-educated 35-year-old relocated to New York to “be both an entertainer and an irritant” and landed a job on the Comedy Central show in 2006 as a writer and spoof reporter. He has been harangued for looking like Harry Potter ever since. Expect it to continue this summer.