James Corden Is Leaving CBS’ Late Late Show

James Corden has announced that he will be stepping down as the host of The Late Late Show in 2023, having extended his contract with CBS for one final year.

The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that Corden’s contract extension “will take him through the 2022-23 season,” by which point he will exit The Late Late Show after an eight-year tenure as host. Corden addressed the news directly in an emotional monologue he delivered during a taping of the late-night CBS talk show on Thursday.

“This will be my last year hosting the show,” Corden announced. “When I started this journey, it was always going to be just that. A journey. An adventure. I never saw it as my final destination. I never want this show to overstay its welcome in any way. I always want to love making it and I really think in a year from now that will be a good time to move on and see what else might be out there.”

“We’re not leaving today. We still have a year to go,” he added. “We are all determined to make this the best year we have ever had making this show. We are going to go out with a bang. There’s going to be Carpools and Crosswalks and sketches and other surprises… and there will be tears. There will be so many tears because this has been the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make.”

Corden became the frontman of The Late Late Show in 2015, taking the reins from previous host Craig Ferguson. He launched the fourth iteration of the show with Hollywood stars Tom Hanks and Mila Kunis who were the first of many celebrity guests to take to the stage. Corden also generated buzz with segments such as Carpool Karaoke and Crosswalk the Musical.

“Seven years ago, James Corden came to the U.S. and took television by storm, with huge creative and comedic swings that resonated in a big way with viewers on-air and online,” CBS President and CEO George Cheeks said in a statement. “From ‘Crosswalk the Musical’ to the legendary ‘Carpool Karaoke,’ and every unique comedy segment he introduced, James has truly reimagined many elements of the late-night format… We wish he could stay longer, but we are very proud he made CBS his American home and that this partnership will extend one more season on The Late Late Show.”

Before landing the late-night hosting gig, Corden famously co-wrote and starred in the BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey, for which he won a BAFTA for Best Comedy Performance in 2008. He has also appeared in several films, including Gulliver’s Travels, Into the Woods, and Tom Hooper’s widely criticized film adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cats.

Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.

Cover image credit: Terence Patrick/CBS via Getty Images.

Author: Adele Ankers. [Source Link (*), IGN All]

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