24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Outlander stars Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe issue emotional tribute amid cancelled show
Outlander stars Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe have both broken their silence on the news
Outlander stars Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe have both shared their thoughts on the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The iconic duo, best known for playing Jamie and Claire Fraser in the Starz show, have separately paid tribute to the CBS chat show and political satire series.
The show, which has been on screens since 2015, saw CBS' parent company Paramount recently settle a suit with Donald Trump. Taking to Instagram, Heughan, 45, shared a couple of snaps from his appearance on the show opposite Colbert, 61, the Express reports.
He wrote: 'Sad to hear about the cancellation of @colbertlateshow. One of the first late night talk shows I was lucky to be invited on, Stephen was welcoming, funny and kind enough to feature my first @sassenachspirits whisky release….
'You're making a mistake @cbstv Even if he did MIX IT WITH FRESCO!!!?'
Meanwhile Irish star Balfe, 45, also shared snaps from her two appearances on the show.
She wrote: 'A true gentleman and one of the best interviewers out there.
'I feel very privileged to have sat across from him and very sad that he and The Late Show will no longer be on CBS.
'Thank you Stephen ..! Excited for what comes next for you. @colbertlateshow."
Their tribute posts come after Stephen Colbert announced last week that CBS would be axing the show in May 2026.
The acclaimed comedian and broadcaster confirmed CBS were not going to be replacing the series.
In an emotional statement, he told audiences he'd only just got the news and thanked CBS and the crew for their dedication over the years.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was part of CBS' Late Show franchise, with legendary interviewer David Letterman serving as the programme's former host.
The show consisted of comical sketches, celebrity and political interviews and musical performances, as well as an open similar to The Colbert Report, where the presenter would share a satirical look at the top headlines.
Along with Heughan and Balfe, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert also welcomed A-listers such as Idris Elba, Joaquin Phoenix and John Cena.
Political guests also starred on the show, including Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders, Jeb Bush, Ban Ki-moon and Ted Cruz.
Sam and Claire aren't the only stars to have spoken out in light of the cancellation, with the likes of Severance's Adam Scott, fellow late night host Jimmy Kimmel, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ben Stiller, Kerry Washington, also hitting out at the move.
In a statement about the cancellation, CBS said the decision was "purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night [television]" and "not related in any way to the show's performance, content or other matters'.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert was a top performer for CBS in 2024, with an average audience of 2.57million, reported BBC News.
The strong ratings left some questioning whether the cancellation was a political move, given Colbert did not hold back at his digs at the Trump administration amid the upcoming Midterm elections.
The move also came after CBS' parent company Paramount settled a legal dispute with Trump over a 60 Minutes interview with former Vice-President Kamala Harris.
In addition to this, Colbert criticised the Paramount settlement only three days earlier.
