Ellen DeGeneres is considering a UK television comeback four years after her American daytime show ended amid allegations of a toxic workplace. The 68-year-old comedian raised the possibility on Friday, 16 October, during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, which had already attracted criticism online.
Not everyone welcomed her return to the British spotlight. 'An Ellen comeback is such a recession indicator,' one netizen joked in a discussion about her Graham Norton booking, capturing the scepticism surrounding her return to the British spotlight.
DeGeneres, who lives in the Cotswolds with her wife, Portia de Rossi, has not announced a new series or signed a publicly confirmed broadcasting deal. Her remarks expressed interest rather than confirmed a television project.
Why Is Ellen DeGeneres' UK TV Return Dividing Viewers?
DeGeneres' appearance on The Graham Norton Show sparked a wider discussion about her return to the spotlight, with viewers questioning why she had been invited onto the programme and whether she had anything new to promote. On Reddit, one commenter joked that 'an Ellen comeback is such a recession indicator', reflecting the scepticism surrounding her television ambitions. DeGeneres herself acknowledged the absence of a new project when she joked to Norton: 'I just called you up and said, "I have nothing to promote. Can I just come sit on the couch?"'
Comment
by u/Smooth-Quantity-7024 from discussion
in TheGrahamNortonShow
Reactions also highlighted contrasting views of DeGeneres' legacy. Critics questioned whether the comedian deserved another major television opportunity following the workplace controversy, while supporters defended her contributions to LGBTQ+ representation. Some pointed to her groundbreaking decision to come out publicly in 1997 and the cultural impact of her sitcom Ellen, arguing that she 'did do huge things for gay visibility'. Others associated her primarily with her long-running talk show and her role as Dory in Finding Nemo and Finding Dory.
Ellen Jokes About British Television
On the programme, DeGeneres said, 'I've nothing really going on and I really miss being on TV.' She explained that she missed laughing with writers and audiences, suggesting she had been thinking about making something in Britain. Her comments came four years after The Ellen DeGeneres Show concluded its 19-season run in May 2022.
DeGeneres also joked that the UK's appetite for programmes about pottery, sewing and people watching television might make it easier to find a format. In a clip released by the programme, she floated Lawn and Order, a playful idea for a show about mowing grass. She appeared alongside Quentin Tarantino, Colin Farrell and Gemma Chan.
Watch here: Ellen DeGeneres talks about returning to British television.
Her interest in Britain extends beyond television. DeGeneres and de Rossi relocated to England in 2024, and she recalled the warmth she received in London after coming out publicly in 1997, when the reaction in the US was much harsher. That history adds a personal dimension to her interest in working for British audiences.
The Ellen DeGeneres Show's Workplace Investigation
The debate follows accusations made by former staff in 2020 about bullying, racism and misconduct behind the scenes of her US talk show. WarnerMedia launched an internal investigation, found deficiencies in day-to-day management, and three senior producers subsequently departed. Not every allegation was corroborated. DeGeneres publicly apologised, acknowledging that 'things happened here that never should have happened'.
‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ has lost over one million viewers following workplace toxicity scandal, a 43% decline. (via NYT) pic.twitter.com/BkX5jFVA1A
— Pop Base (@PopBase) March 23, 2021
The presenter has disputed the suggestion that the controversy caused her decision to end the show, saying she had planned to leave after her contract. In 2024, she addressed her fall from public favour in the Netflix stand-up special Ellen DeGeneres: For Your Approval, which was presented as her final comedy special.
For now, the possibility of a UK series remains just that. DeGeneres has made her interest clear, but viewers have already reopened the argument over whether her television legacy should be defined by her entertainment career, the workplace allegations or both.
