James Corden has spoken about his return to the UK as he departs his LA-based Late Late Show after eight years.
The British comedian became a US household name hosting the US talk show and became a friend to many Hollywood stars thanks to his jovial segments, Carpool Karaoke and Crosswalk The Musical.
While reflecting on his “incredible run”, the 44-year-old described leaving Hollywood as a “very strange” feeling and admitted that stepping down leaves him in unknown territory.
He told The Sun: “Right now, there are a lot of unknowns. It just feels very strange — knowing everything is going to change but trying to hang on to the fact that change is fundamentally a good thing.”
However, Corden said he is ready for the next, quieter chapter with his family on home soil.
The TV star added: “I think I have to spend a little bit of time letting this all go. It has been a noisy eight years, and right now I am going to try and focus on having a little bit of silence.”
Corden’s comments come as he described the experience of filming his last episode of The Late Late Show as “crazy”.
The TV star admitted he knows in his “core” it is time for him to move on while he chatted to the BBC Radio 2 breakfast show after the final recording, which will air on Thursday night.
He told host Zoe Ball: “It is a strange one, I haven’t really ever felt like this before.”
Keeping his voice hushed due to his wife, children, parents and close friends being asleep in the house, Corden confirmed US comedian Will Ferrell and pop superstar Harry Styles will feature, while Coldplay frontman Chris Martin will play as part of the house band.
He also teased a segment in which he and Tom Cruise perform as Timon and Pumbaa in a production of The Lion King at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles.
Reflecting on the BBC sitcom that made his name, Corden said: “I can remember when we did the last episode of season three of Gavin & Stacey and I can remember sitting with Ruth Jones and crying.
1 Episode left!!!!!
— The Late Late Show with James Corden (@latelateshow) April 27, 2023
Watch our Primetime Special tomorrow at 10pm and our Final #LateLateShow episode at 12:37am ! See you there! pic.twitter.com/ZZg1vICCuR
“But, obviously, those shows we would shoot in blocks and then you would go off and do other things, and then you would come back and shoot again, whereas this has been a pretty constant eight years.
“Tomorrow is going to be our 1,200th show, which is, let’s be honest, it’s too much. It’s crazy but I feel good about it.
“I just know in my core that it’s the right thing to do for so many personal and professional reasons. We’re really going to try and go out with a bang.
“The last few shows we have done have been brilliant, the atmosphere in the studio is great. We have had some really big guests come down and do stuff, and tomorrow’s show is going to be great.
“I just want to cherish it and not spend the whole day crying. Just spend the whole day just feeling pride and gratitude and joy about it all really.”
You're not imagining things -- that's @coldplay's Chris Martin sitting in with the #LateLateShow band tonight! pic.twitter.com/eKZS6RBnVY
— The Late Late Show with James Corden (@latelateshow) April 27, 2023
Corden said he had never expected the show to become a success, describing the experience as a “glorious ride”.
“I don’t look like I should be hosting an American late-night talk show. I’m from High Wycombe. This isn’t a road that’s often travelled,” he said.
Previous guests on the show have included Sir Paul McCartney, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Justin Bieber, Stevie Wonder and Mariah Carey.
The final run has featured the typical run of stars including return visits from the likes of Josh Gad, Gal Gadot, Mila Kunis, the Jonas Brothers and Billie Eilish.
Corden’s final episode of The Late Late Show will air on Thursday on US network CBS.
