Despite being short-listed as a replacement for talk show host Conan O’Brien, the Aussie comic yesterday laughed off losing the Late Night role to Saturday Night Live regular Jimmy Fallon.

Flattered to have been considered at all, McManus told Confidential he still planned to keep working towards his American TV dream.

“You never know I could end up the (winter Olympian) Stephen Bradbury of tonight shows,” McManus joked. “If someone falls over and hurts themselves I might be in with a chance,” he said.

Speaking last night ahead of the first of two shows at the Enmore, McManus added: “I have always said I would be happy to stay in Australia and do our show, but we’ll keep building relationships in the US just to keep life interesting.”