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Exiled Egyptian comedian Bassem Youssef made his first television appearance in over a decade on Tuesday, broadcasting from the United States on the programme Kalema Akhira (“The Last Word”).
“Of course, I miss Egypt, but 11 years have passed. It’s the Egypt of 2014 that I remember,” Youssef told host Ahmed Salem during the interview.
The broadcast on ONTV, a channel close to the Egyptian government, marks his first collaboration with Egyptian media since leaving the country.
Youssef, a former heart surgeon, rose to fame as Egypt’s leading political satirist following the 2011 revolution. His show, which lampooned politicians, clerics, and military figures, drew audiences of up to 40 million weekly.
His biting humour, however, eventually led to multiple lawsuits for “insult and defamation,” particularly after he targeted President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during his election campaign.
Facing mounting legal and political pressure, Youssef ended his programme in 2014 and relocated to the United States, where he has continued to build his career as a comedian and writer.
His return to Egyptian screens has been eagerly anticipated, signalling a rare re-engagement with the country’s media landscape.
