Why is James Corden leaving the Late Late Show and who will replace him?

James Corden shocked his fans in April 2022 when he revealed he was leaving the Late Late Show.

The host, 44, is leaving the CBS program after eight and a half years of interviewing hundreds of celebrities, including on his famous carpool karaoke segment.

Gavin and Stacey’s screenwriter will host The Late Late Show for the last time on Thursday with two final special guests.

Speaking on The Drew Barrymore Show in January about leaving the show, James admitted, “I’m going to be a mess on that last show.”

“I’ll cry my eyes out, but I’ll know deep down in my heart that it’s best for me and best for us as a family to put down some roots in London, and it definitely feels right in every way.”

So what’s the real reason behind James’ departure from his beloved program? And who will rise to replace him?

Moving on: The presenter has said he will be ‘devastated’ to go – but what is the real reason behind his departure?

Why is James Corden leaving The Late Late Show?

James, who earns $36 million a year, returns to the UK to be closer to his relatives.

The actor revealed while appearing on The Drew Barrymore Show that a conversation with his son Max led him to leave the late night talk show and move his family back to the UK.

“I was filming on a Sunday and I came downstairs, it was about six in the morning and my son, who was ten at the time, was sitting on the stairs and he said, ‘Are you working today?’ and I said, “I am.”

“He said, ‘I thought, well, it’s Sunday,’ and I said, ‘I know buddy, but this schedule is just everywhere.

“We’ve just got to get it done because we’ve only got a tiny bit of time before we have to go back and do the show,” and his face just sort of slumped,” Corden said.

“I got in the car and called my wife Jules and I said, ‘I’ve realized, at best, we’ve got six more summers where Max is, even remotely wants to be near us and I can waste no other.” Corden explained.

“So the choice was really to go, ‘If I really want to do this other job, it can’t be at the expense of our kids, our family,’ which is really all it boils down to,” Corden added.

James has three children, Max, 11, Carey, eight, and Charlotte, five, with his wife Julia.

Doting dad: The British star has three children, Max, 11, Carey, eight, and Charlotte, five, with wife Julia (pictured together in 2019)

Who’s in line to replace him?

It has been reported that the Late Late Show, as it is known, will itself end when James leaves the show.

But CBS will reboot the Comedy Central game show @midnight in place, deadline reported in February.

Stephen Colbert, host of CBS’ top show The Late Show, will reportedly produce the revival.

However, Chris Hardwick, who hosted the original @midnight, is not expected to have any connection to the upcoming show.

Increased workload: The Late Show host Stephen Colbert is reportedly producing @midnight along with Funny or Die, who produced the original; seen in January 2022

Left Behind: Comedy Central aired at midnight from 2013–2017 with comedian Chris Hardwick as host. Hardwick, who was accused of sexual assault in 2018, will reportedly not be involved in the reboot

When is the last episode of the Late Late Show?

A two-hour finale is scheduled to celebrate eight years of the show at 10 p.m. on April 27.

This will be the last episode.

Who are the last guests of the Late Late Show?

Harry Styles and Will Ferrell, who both have long histories with the show, will be the final guests on April 27, it was announced earlier this month.

Rolling In The Deep singer Adele was featured in the latest Carpool Karaoke, which will be broadcast on Thursday.

James has already revealed how he was forced to turn to Adele for help amid the backlash in LA over his ‘rude behavior’ in the latest Carpool Karaoke

CBS: CBS has announced that Styles and Ferrell – who both have long histories with the show – will be the final guests on the final regular episode, following a primetime special