Worrying Sign ‘homesick’ James Corden Was Going To Quit The Late Late Show

Gavin and Stacey star James Corden confessed he felt like he was taking his family away from their loved ones and reportedly turned down a huge double-your-money deal to stay in America

It’s time to roll out the red carpet at Heathrow airport as James Corden is coming back to the UK.

The Gavin and Stacey creator has spent seven years hosting The Late Late Show – winning over the American viewers with hilarious segments such as Carpool Karaoke.

James adopted a British chat show format in which all of his guests were interviewed at once, rather than one at a time, which proved to be a winning formula.

However, the 43-year-old comedian will be giving up his presenting duties after making “one of the hardest decisions” of his life.

His departure from American TV does not come as a surprise, as there were plenty of signs that James was going to pack in his job and move back home.

The ‘homesick’ star, who is married to TV producer Julia Carey, was left feeling like he was taking his wife and their three kids away from people.

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With travel between the US and UK becoming increasingly challenging during the coronavirus pandemic, the family were reportedly left feeling further from home than ever.

In December 2020, James told The Sun: “I have a couple of years to go on this contract. Ending the show will always be a bigger family decision than a professional one.

“It will be about people at home who we miss very, very much, who we are homesick for.

“I also feel like my wife and I have three young children, and they are three young grandchildren that we’ve taken away from people.

“This probably feels particularly magnified now during the pandemic, but I have an overwhelming feeling that our family has walked to the beat of my drum for a very long time.”

During his time as host on The Late Late Show, the series won a slew of awards thanks to James being at the helm, landing an Emmy and Critics Choice award.

He also managed to generate a lot of online interaction with his Carpool Karaoke segment, which saw him driving round singing along with celebrities.

There were rumours that Corden was going to be offered double his £7million salary in a bid to stop him quitting the States.

US channel CBS was said to be “pulling out all the stops” to keep him when his three-year contract ends.

In January last year, an insider explained: “By talking about how he might return home, some see this as James playing the game.

“It suggests to the top honchos he’ll walk if he’s not compensated enough.

“The feeling is James is worth double [the £7million] and bosses are reluctantly starting to accept that. The last thing TV brass want is to lose James to a rival.”

But James has turned down the offer of a multimillion pound contract and announced that he won’t be staying on the show.

His contract was due to end in August, but Corden has confirmed he will be staying until next spring.

While tearing up on his show, James announced: “When I started this journey it was always going to be just that, it was going to be a journey, an adventure.

“I never saw it as my final destination, and I never want this show to overstay it’s welcome. I always want to love making it. I really think in a year from now that will be a good time to move on to see what else is out there.

“We are all determined to make this the best year we have ever had. We are going to go out with a bang.”

Admitting it was one of the hardest decisions he has ever made, James continued: “There’ll be tears, so many tears, ‘cuz this has been the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make. I never took this for granted, ever.”

CBS president George Cheeks said in a statement: “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.”

A source close to the presenter told The Sun : “James and Jules have had barely any time to see their families in the UK over the past few years due to his work schedule.

“Their plan is to try to spend more time in the UK once he finishes The Late Late Show next year.”

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