James Corden Late Late Show – live: British host waves goodbye to America in star-studded finale

Corden is returning to the UK to spend more time with his wife and children

Harry Styles and Will Ferrell smash James Corden's Late Late Show desk with sledgehammers

James Corden’s tenure on The Late Late Show has come to an end.

The British presenter hosted his final episode in the early hours of Friday morning (28 April), following an eight-year run on the CBS talk show.

First, viewers were treated to a Carpool Karaoke special starring Adele, then Corden was joined by some of his favourite guests from over the years, including Harry Styles, Will Ferrell and Tom Cruise.

Ferrell took a sledgehammer to Corden’s now-defunct desk, and several of Corden’s rival late night hosts appeared on the show to spill their industry secrets.

Corden also made a farewell speech in which he referenced growing divisions in the US.

Scroll down to catch up on all the antics...

Key Points

• The Late Late Show: Everything to know about James Corden’s last episode
• Tom Cruise ‘adamant’ about performing stunt on James Corden’s final Late Late Show episode
• James Corden tells Adele how he feels about leaving The Late Late Show in last ever Carpool Karaoke

[29 April 2023 00:52 · Tom Murray]

Corden was joined by five rival hosts who revealed talk show ‘secrets’ on final episode

James Corden was joined by a group of rival talk show hosts in a surprise segment on his last ever Late Late Show episode.

Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert and David Letterman all appeared in the segment, in which they pressure Corden – who was in bed for the sketch – not to reveal the “secrets” of the talk show industry.

[28 April 2023 23:46 · Tom Murray]

President Biden made an appearance

The episode opened with a special message from Joe Biden: “Thank you for all the joy you brought homes across America,” he said in the taped piece.

“Special thanks for never asking me to sing in the car with you.”

Joe Biden on ‘The Late Late Show’ (CBS)

[28 April 2023 21:59 · Tom Murray]

The one thing Corden ‘won’t miss’

Corden has said that he felt “deeply unprepared” to talk about mass shootings and terrorist attacks on The Late Late Show.

“When talking about those moments when there’s a mass shooting or a national disaster or any of those things, what I’ve tried to do, is just be as honest as I can and in some way offer comfort and perspective,” the 44-year-old told People.

[28 April 2023 21:03 · Tom Murray]

James Corden’s biggest controversies over the years

James Corden’s time as the host of The Late Late Show on CBS has come to an end following an eight-year run in the presenter’s chair.

Since arriving in the US in 2015, Corden has gone from being the beloved star of the hit BBC comedy series Gavin & Stacey to a global phenomenon, appearing in major Hollywood movies and forming personal relationships with A-listers like Tom Cruise.

However, the dizzying heights Corden has reached have also been marked by some embarrassing lows. Over the years, Corden has been accused of exhibiting diva behaviour and stealing jokes from other comedians.

Read on to find a timeline of the entertainer’s biggest controversies.

[28 April 2023 20:34 · Tom Murray]

Video: Tom Cruise and James Corden perform Hakuna Matata in The Lion King on Broadway

[28 April 2023 20:07 · Tom Murray]

Harry Styles fan collapses after fist bump with star

As Styles made his way on stage, he interacted with a few of the audience members.

One of them received a fist bump from the One Direction member – and promptly fainted.

Check out the moment, which has since gone viral, here:

[28 April 2023 18:44 · Tom Murray]

Cruise fans baffled by ‘The Lion King’ stunt

In his segment on Corden’s final Late Late Show, Cruise gatecrashed a Broadway performance of the Lion King musical alongside the host.

Dressed as the characters Pumbaa and Timon respectively, Cruise and Corden launched into a rendition of the famous song “Hakuna Matata”.

It was a baffling moment for some of Cruise’s fans who know him for his high-risk stunt performances in the Mission: Impossible franchise.

Read about their reactions to the performance here:

[28 April 2023 18:15 · Tom Murray]

Corden tells America to ‘remember’ what it ‘signifies'

In his final address to the audience, Corden spoke about the turbulent times in which he’s hosted the US talk show.

“We started with Obama then Trump then a global pandemic. I’ve watched America change a lot over these past few years, I’ve watched divisions grow, I felt a sense of negativity,” he said.

“I guess all I really want to stay is, I implore you to remember what America signifies to the rest of the world. My entire life, it’s always been a place of optimism and joy. Sure, it has flaws. Show me a country that doesn’t… every single one of us is a work of progress.”

[28 April 2023 17:45 · Tom Murray]

ICYMI: Will Ferrell destroysed James Corden’s desk with a sledgehammer

The US comedy star stopped by Corden’s last show to smash up some furniture last night.

“It’s your last show, man,” he told Corden, justifying the outburst.

Check out footage of the moment here:

[28 April 2023 17:34 · Tom Murray]

Comment: James Corden’s stale, gimmicky Late Late Show finale was a fitting end for TV’s quintessential late-night host

The Independent’s Louis Chilton has reflected on Corden’s legacy in the wake of his final Late Late Show.

“Under his tenure, The Late Late Show was unimaginative and seldom funny – as likely at any one time to induce full-body cringing as it was to raise a chuckle. And yet, who’s to say he wasn’t the quintessential 21st-century talk show host?”