Bassem Youssef's year just keeps getting better. The Egyptian heart surgeon-turned-satirist was yesterday announced as the host for this year's ceremony for the International Emmy Awards.

Honouring the best in the television industry, this year's International Emmy Awards Gala is set to take place on November 23rd at the Hilton Hotel in New York City, where up to 1500 figures from the TV industry will turn out in their tuxedos and ballgowns.

"I am extremely honored to be chosen following the footsteps of incredibly funny and distinguished comedians like John Oliver and Matt Lucas who hosted the ceremony in the last two years," said Youssef. "Being the first host from the Middle East will put more responsibility on my shoulders to serve this position in the best way I can and I hope that this will shed more light on the vibrant entertainment industry in my region."

The 'Egyptian Jon Stewart', Bassem Youssef, with the 'American Bassem Youssef', Jon Stewart.

Though the International Emmy Awards don't get as much media attention as its sisters, the Primtime and Daytime Emmys, the announcement marks yet another huge achievement in a what has been a whirlwind few years for the man who begun his broadcasting career on YouTube as he continues to rub shoulders with US TV's biggest player.

Youssef gets crazy eyes as he contemplates usurping Jimmy Fallon - 'The Tonight Show with Bassem Youssef' has as nice ring to it.

It's a fitting choice when you consider how Youssef has come to revolutionise television's historically bumpy relationship with politics back in Egypt and the news comes off the back award wins at New York Festivals, the completion of documentary, Tickling Giants, a huge stand-up gig in the US and his Harvard fellowship - yeah, Bassem's big in the game.

By Haisam Awad