Stephen Colbert interviews Barack Obama as 'The Late Show' nears final episodes

Stephen Colbert has interviewed former President Barack Obama as The Late Show enters its final weeks on air, marking one of the programme’s last high-profile appearances before its scheduled conclusion on May 21.

The conversation aired on Tuesday and was filmed at the Obama Presidential Centre in Chicago, which is set to open next month.

During the interview, Colbert acknowledged the approaching end of the long-running show and joked about his future, telling Obama he was “looking for a new gig soon” while referencing suggestions that he should run for president.

“For the record, I think it’s a stupid idea. How dumb do you think it is for people to say that I should run for president?” Colbert said.

Obama responded, “The bar has changed,” adding, “I think that you could perform significantly better than some folks that we’ve seen,” while clarifying it was not an endorsement.

The discussion also touched on extraterrestrial life, referencing Obama’s earlier remarks in a February interview. Addressing speculation, he said, “I saw no evidence during my presidency that extraterrestrials have made contact with us.”

He added, “One of the things you learn as president is government is terrible at keeping secrets,” dismissing theories of hidden evidence.

The appearance marks a continuation of the long-standing relationship between Colbert and Obama, which began during The Colbert Report and continued through multiple appearances on The Late Show.

CBS announced in July that the programme would end after more than 30 years, citing financial reasons.

The final episode is expected to air on May 21, with Comics Unleashed set to take over the time slot.