Power to irritate:

John Oliver reveals how he is now offside with several countries around the globe.

Satirical talk-show host John Oliver knows he will not be welcome in several parts of the world.

“I am aware that there are certain countries that it probably wouldn’t be wise for me to go to,” reflects John Oliver. “And each year, that list expands. Early on, we did a piece on the royal family in Thailand and it turned out we were subject to a lese majeste law (meaning it is illegal to defame the king or queen). So I think I probably shouldn’t go there.

“And I don’t think Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines is a big fan.

“I don’t know if we are still blocked in China, but I do think that’s a place where it perhaps isn’t wise for me to go. But I take that as a huge compliment,” continues 42-year-old Oliver.

“One of the details in our piece about Xi Jinping (China’s leader) was that he seems sensitive about his perceived resemblance to Winnie the Pooh.

“When there are people so powerful that they seem almost indestructible, having the power to irritate them, at least, feels like something.”

Over the past five years, the British-born, Cambridge-educated comedian has risen to the top of the competitive late-night comedy scene with his satirical HBO show, Last Week Tonight, which is returning to irritate the powerful across the globe.

Oliver said of the show’s hiatus: “There’s been nothing in particular that really felt painful that we weren’t on TV for, other than the barbaric British family in New Zealand.”

While Last Week Tonight is produced, first and foremost, for a