James Corden’s tenure as the host of The Late Late Show will come to an end on Thursday night after eight fun-filled years.
“You don’t want to be making a mistake but I just feel compelled to do it,” said the 44-year-old to Entertainment Weekly. “I feel like if I don’t leave now, I never will... or it will be me just being pushed out the door.”
Corden plans to not only quit his job, but to quit America too, and move back to London with his wife and three children. “That in itself would be a lot to do, and then to walk away from what just has been the most magical experience I could have ever wished for... to, with intention, turn everything upside down, comes with a lot of fear,” he added.
There have been some fantastic moments on The Late Late Show: Corden’s Carpool Karaoke series became so popular that it was turned into an Apple TV+ show, and other segments, such as Spill Your Guts and Drop the Mic have resulted in clips of celebrities in some astonishing situations, many of which went viral.
On the eve of Corden’s late-night exit, here is our pick of some of the best moments from his show.
Adele Carpool Karaoke
Adele’s 2016 drive with Corden has racked up 261 million views, making it the most viewed Carpool Karaoke clip ever. And it’s clear why. Not only is Adele her usual genial self, but she properly belts out her songs too. Then she raps Nicki Minaj’s verse from Monster – iconic.
Tattoo Roulette with One Direction
From the off, Corden and One Direction regretted agreeing to play this game. Each of the four members of One Direction (Zayn Malik had already left the group at this point) and Corden were given a red box: four of which had the word “safe” written inside them, while one of the boxes contained the word “tattoo”. Then, just like in Deal or No Deal, the contestants stood in a line and revealed the contents of their box. The tension is absolutely palpable.
Skydiving with Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise is known for his career of ever-increasingly brave (read: insane) stunts. So what could make better television that actually doing one of these feats with the Hollywood star? In this 2018 clip, Corden opts to go skydiving with Cruise, and the difference between the actor and the comedian couldn’t be more stark. There’s Cruise, who leaps out of the plane, hangs around in the air, and lands with paratrooper-level expertise, and then there’s Corden, screaming “Oh My God”, who lands with the opposite of paratrooper expertise.
Spill Your Guts or Fill Your Guts with Kim Kardashian
There have been some great Spill Your Guts segments, but none was more captivating than the episode which featured Kim Kardashian. It made such good TV because the Kardashian-Jenners are constantly mired in some sort of drama, which meant Corden could really put Kim under the cosh. The billionaire handled the situation with aplomb, answering honestly where she could, and downing several absolutely disgusting concoctions – the dare when participants don’t want to answer a question – when she couldn’t.
Harry Styles makes daylight music video with James Corden
It was so much fun watching Harry Styles and Corden bumble around the streets of New York, asking unsuspecting tenants if they could use their apartments to film a music video. The household members that do finally agree to let the One Direction alumnus film his music video at their flat are pretty gobsmacked by the way that their day has turned out, which is enjoyable enough to watch in itself. But then the making of the official music video, which is completed in three hours and for under $300, is extremely chaotic.
Afternoon Tea with Prince Harry
Just after Prince Harry moved across the pond, he recorded this long day out with Corden. The duo have afternoon tea together on top of an open-top tourist bus, Facetime Meghan, stop by the now privately owned mansion from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air to go to the loo, and they also do an assault course. It was one of the first glimpses of Prince Harry, who looks bemused throughout, in his new post-Buckingham Palace life.
First Lady Michelle Obama Carpool Karaoke
A simply awe-inspiring combination. No one is cooler than Michelle Obama and Corden must have pondered how to rise to this challenge. He did a great job – bringing legend Missy Elliot to ride out in the last quarter of the 15-minute clip. The best moment has to be when all three celebs start having an absolute blast to Get Your Freak On.
James and Usain Bolt compete
Corden, frustrated at losing against Usain Bolt in running, challenges the fastest man in the world to a series of contests, from basketball, to chess, to Twister, to baking, to Guess Who. And guess what? Bolt beats him at everything. In the end, Bolt reigns so supreme he even takes over The Late Late Show. A great watch.
Drop the Mic with Helen Mirren
The Late Late Show’s drop the mic segment is only for the fearless: you have to be pretty ballsy to go up on stage and challenge Corden in a rap battle. Not because he’s good, but because it’s incredibly easy to end up looking like a total chump. But Dame Helen Mirren did not seem remotely daunted by the prospect of the diss-off, arriving in style, wearing a crown and cloak. She’s brilliant as she makes a few real jabs at Corden.
Adele, the final Carpool Karaoke
For the last ever episode of Carpool Karaoke, Adele surprised a fast asleep James Corden, by sneaking into his bedroom and waking him up with the crash of two cymbals. They then go for a drive and, needless to say, it’s an emotional affair. There are flashbacks to some of the duo’s best moments together from the show, and, as with the viral original, they both belt out the tunes.
