Last April, James Corden took viewers and fans by surprise when he announced that he would be leaving The Late Late Show and that his last show would take place in the Spring of 2023. When the announcement came, Corden had been hosting the show for eight years, which according to Corden, is far longer than he had initially hoped for.

He told ET last May, “When I took the job – firstly, I didn’t think we’d be on the air, like, six months later. Then as soon as it seemed like we’d be on for a little while, I was very, very determined that the show wouldn’t overstay its welcome in any way and that we would always know when to leave. That we’d always know when to go out on top, because I think that’s really important.”

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Corden expressed his appreciation for The Late Late Show to Drew Barrymore while on her talk show The Drew Barrymore Show, saying, “Look it’s not easy in any way to walk away from something that is so, I mean, I’ll never work in a better environment than the one I work in now, nothing about leaving the show was to do with not enjoying it. I love it.” The beloved British comic went on to explain to Barrymore that, “the truth is it became a very easy decision, because I always knew it was an adventure and I never, ever considered it to be the final destination.”

James Corden’s Decision Came While Filming His Prime Video Drama Mammals

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Corden shared with Barrymore the moment he realized he had to make a choice, which came while the actor was on set for his new Prime Video Show, Mammals. “One day I was filming on a Sunday and I came downstairs, it was about 6 a.m. and my son, who was 10 at the time, was sat on the stairs, and he said, ‘Are you working today?’ and I said, ‘I am,’ and he said, ‘I thought, well it’s Sunday,’ and I said, ‘I know, buddy, but this schedule’s just all over the place. We just got to get it done because we only have a tiny amount of time before we have to go back and do the show,’ and his face just kind of dropped.”

Corden continued the story, “I got in the car and I called my wife Jules and I said, ‘I’ve realized, best case scenario, we have six more summers where Max even remotely wants to be around us, and I cannot waste another one.” Corden continued opening up to Barrymore and reiterated his decision, “If I really want to do this other work, that cannot be at the expense of our children, our family… that is really all it comes down to.”

Although Corden expressed to Barrymore his belief that he is making the right decision saying, “It was really hard, and, you know, there is family decisions and all the things like that. But I just couldn’t shake that, maybe if I try and back myself somehow… There might be one more adventure, there might be one more journey that I might be capable of, I will never find out if I stay in the safety of this, you know?”

Believing his exit is the right decision, leaving won’t be any less emotional, according to Corden, “I will be a mess on that last show. I will cry my eyes out.” The comic went on to say, “But I will know, at my core, that the best thing for me and the best thing for us as a family is to put down some roots in London,” before adding, “And it feels absolutely right in every single way.”

Fans are sad to see him go but wish the talk show host and his family best wishes on his next adventure.

Corden feels fortunate in the way he was able to exit, and he is “excited” by the future, “Whoever gets to decide? Certainly not in this industry. Whoever gets to make their own decisions? Never. And you’ll never find out [what is waiting for you] unless you just take a run and jump.” Corden wrapped things up with an anecdote, “When I took the job, I remember saying to my friends, like, ‘I’d rather regret doing something than not doing something.’ That’s the same way I feel now.”