The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon is to be screened after NFL matches on Sunday nights in a bid to boost ratings.

NBC has announced that the 50-year-old star's talk show will have four special episodes after Sunday Night Football during the first three months of the NFL season.

The network is hoping that Jimmy is able to take advantage of the massive NFL audience by broadcasting two episodes of the programme - which typically airs on weeknights - after games involving the Kansas City Chiefs, arguably the NFL's biggest franchise at present following a recent run of Super Bowl wins and tight end Travis Kelce's relationship with pop star Taylor Swift.

Katie Hockmeyer, NBC's executive vice-president of late-night programming, said: "We're hoping to pick up some of those eyeballs for our show."

The network previously attempted the ratings-enhancing ploy with The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last year - and the episode that aired on the Sunday night secured the best viewing figures of the season.

Showrunner Chris Miller said: "Teaming up with NBC Sports for these Sunday nights is always a highlight for us.

"We've always loved leaning into sports and are excited to be a part of Sunday Night Football again this season."

US President Donald Trump has suggested recently that The Tonight Show was likely to be axed as he took aim at Fallon and fellow talk show host Jimmy Kimmel - who have both been critical of him in the past - following CBS's announcement earlier this summer that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will end next year.

Trump said earlier this month: "Well, it hasn't worked. And it hasn't worked, really, for a long time, and I would say pretty much from the beginning. Colbert has no talent.

"I mean, I could take anybody here. I could go outside in the beautiful streets and pick a couple of people that do just as well or better. They'd get higher ratings than he did. He's got no talent.

"Fallon has no talent. Kimmel has no talent. They're next. They're going to be going. I hear they're going to be going. I don't know, but I would imagine they'd get - you know, Colbert has better ratings than Kimmel or Fallon."