This was his first public appearance since long-term girlfriend Stewart admitted last month to a “momentary indiscretion” with a married film director.

Breaking the ice Jon Stewart, the host, asked with just a touch of irony, “What have you been up to?”

Pattinson replied, “I had a joke prepared!” he of the broken heart quipped back. “God damn it. I was all set up and ready to go.”

Pattinson admitted that his world has ended during the interview but quickly covered his tracks saying, “That was my attempt at a joke.”

He smiled when Stewart jokingly told him to “kick her to the curb”.

He appeared uncertain what to say when the TV show host asked him, “Are you alright? Is everything ok?”

Pattinson replied, “This is the weird thing about these interviews. Now I’m going to sound like an idiot. My biggest problem in my life is I’m cheap and I didn’t hire a publicist. In every awkward interview, normally actors get these things scripted.”

When Pattinson makes his first TV appearance, the interview draws 1.8 million people.

There was one serious moment when host stewart said, “Here's my wish for you, that you get to handle your business in private in your personal life. I really enjoy talking to you, you're a nice kid.”

He also asked him if there was anything he wanted to say about the situation. To which Pattinson said, “I genuinely want to make Cosmopolis have a bigger opening weekend than the Dark Night.”