Trump to bail out US star McMahon

McMahon is best known as Johnny Carson's sidekick

Donald Trump plans to buy US TV star Ed McMahon's house and then lease it back after he fell behind on a mortgage, the tycoon has told the Los Angeles Times.

The former sidekick of talk show host Johnny Carson has not worked for 18 months because of a neck injury.

McMahon, 85, faced losing his Beverly Hills mansion after defaulting on $4.8m (£2.6m) in mortgage payments.

The house was recently listed at $4.6m (£2.5m). McMahon's spokesman said he was "very optimistic" over a deal.

I'd watch him every night. How could this happen? Donald Trump

Mr Trump told the newspaper that, while he did not know McMahon personally, stepping in "would be an honour".

He said he used to watch the entertainer when he was a student.

"I'd watch him every night," he said.

"How could this happen?"

'Here's Johnny'

McMahon bought the six-bedroom, five-bathroom house in 1990.

He is most famous for his work with Carson on the NBC Tonight show, where for 30 years he introduced the host - who died in 2005 - with his trademark: "Here's Johnny."

In the 1980s and 1990s, he hosted popular TV talent show Star Search.

Last month, it was announced that McMahon was suing a Los Angeles hospital, claiming its doctors discharged him with a broken neck.

He claims the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center let him go him without taking an X-ray.

Entrepreneur Trump presents the US version of TV show The Apprentice.