Jimmy Kimmel’s 12-year-old daughter wants to inherit his late night show

Jimmy Kimmel’s daughter Jane, 12, is already eyeing up his late night empire.

Jimmy Kimmel has revealed his daughter is convinced she’ll inherit his talk show.

The 58-year-old late night host has revealed his 12-year-old daughter Jane had a very emotional reaction to Jimmy Kimmel Live! being pulled off the air briefly in September 2025 because she was worried she’d lost her chance to follow in her famous father’s footsteps.

During an appearance on the Dax Shephard’s Armchair Expert podcast, it was revealed Jane “started crying, because her show was going away”.

Jimmy, who joked her reaction was “annoying and presumptuous”, explained: “For whatever reason, she’s decided, even though she’s one of my four children, that she is taking over the show.

“It was never a conversation even. It was just like, ‘Yeah, I will, of course, run the family business.’ “

Jimmy and his producer wife Molly McNearney, who is co-head writer for Jimmy Kimmel Live!, have Jane and nine-year-old son Billy together.

The late night star also has adult children Katie and Kevin with his ex-wife Gina Maddy.

Jimmy revealed that fellow chat show star Jon Stewart had a similar experience with his son.

He added: “I told John Stewart about this. He said, ‘Yeah. My son said the same thing when he was little.’

“He was like, ‘Yeah, and then I will be taking over The Daily Show.’ And he was like, ‘What’s with this ‘Trevor’ character?’ ”

Trevor Noah took over from Jon in 2015, and hosted the satirical news show until 2022, while Jon is now back in the hotseat every Monday, plus occasional special episodes.

Jimmy Kimmel Live! was temporarily suspended following his comments about the death of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk.

Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform at the time: “Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. “Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done. Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible.”

Less than a week later, ABC confirmed the return of the programme, prompting the president to ask why they wanted “someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99 [percent] positive Democrat GARBAGE”.