Jimmy Kimmel 'excited' to host Primetime Emmy Awards

US chat show star Jimmy Kimmel has announced he will host the 2016 Primetime Emmy Awards.

Kimmel, 48, tweeted that he will take to the stage at Los Angeles' Microsoft Theatre in September.

He tweeted: “I am hosting the #Emmys on Sunday Sept 18. Until then, have a great summer.”

In a statement he said: “I am excited to be hosting the Emmys again. I have a feeling I’m going to be great.”

ABC Entertainment President Channing Dungey said: “Jimmy Kimmel is the consummate showman. With Kimmel at the helm, expect to be at the edge of your seat for a bigger, bolder and better-than-ever Emmy event.”

It will mark Kimmel’s second outing as host following his 2012 stint which saw him rope Tracy Morgan into a prank to get viewers to tune into ABC.

After Morgan 'collapsed' on stage, Kimmel encouraged members of the audience to tweet: "OMG Tracy Morgan just passed out on stage at the Emmys. Turn ABC on now."

Morgan started trending on Google and the prank saw 54,000 tweets posted in the minutes after Kimmel's announcement, according to Topsy Free Analytics.

Nominations for the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards will be announced on July 14 with the ceremony scheduled to take place on September 18.

Follow @StandardShowbiz for more entertainment news.