Ellen heading down under

The openly lesbian queen of US daytime television, Ellen DeGeneres, will be coming to Australia later this year to spend time with Australian partner Portia de Rossi and film segments for her highly rated talk show.

DeGeneres made the announcement today during her show while interviewing Australian actress Nicole Kidman.

“I am actually for the first time in my life going to Australia in March,” she said.

“I’m going to shoot a bunch of stuff in Melbourne and Sydney and do taped pieces, meet the fans and hang out.”

All 400 members of the studio audience were then informed by DeGeneres that they too will be travelling to Australia sometime in the next year, with each of them receiving an airline ticket to travel to Sydney or Melbourne any time within the next 12 months as well six nights’ accommodation at a four-star hotel.

“Everyone here is going to Australia,” DeGeneres said to loud screams.

The visit will be the first chance de Rossi has to show off her home country to DeGeneres, despite being married since 2008.