After four months off air, Bassem Youssef - known as Egypt's Jon Stewart - has returned to television with his show Al-Bernameg (The Program).

The former heart surgeon, who was arrested for insulting Egypt's ousted president Mohammed Morsi, has acknowledged the country's political climate has made it difficult for him to produce the show.

Youssef returned after a summer break and he did not spare anyone during Al-Bernameg's season three premiere.

He poked fun at the ousted president, the Muslim Brotherhood, as well as supporters of army chief Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.

Youssef also mocked the idea of a gentle coup, acting out a scene in which soldiers hand Mr Morsi a red rose, saying: "Morsi, baby, you're not president any more... It's not us, it's you."

Taking a more serious tone at the end of the episode, he admitted he is concerned over the possible suppression of media in Egypt.

Youssef said he was worried that fascism in the name of religion would be replaced with fascism in the name of nationalism, but he promised he would not be censored or dictated to.

Within 24 hours of the 90-minute broadcast going to air, several legal complaints were filed with the Egyptian attorney-general.

Social media lit up with widely-varying opinions on Youssef's return, with some Facebook groups even calling for his arrest.

The satirist himself took to Twitter, responding drily to his critics: "Egyptians like jokes and irony, it's true, but especially when they match their own ideas."

ABC/wires