James Corden To End Hosting ‘The Late Late Show’ Next Year

James Corden announced that he will be leaving The Late Late Show after his contract extension ends in spring 2023.

“It’s been, it’s a really hard decision to leave because I’m so immensely proud of the show. I’m thrilled to be extending (for a year),” Corden said on Thursday. “I always thought I’d do it for five years and then leave and then I stayed on. I’ve really been thinking about it for a long time, thinking whether there might be one more adventure.”

The British comedian officially replaced Craig Ferguson as host of The Late Late Show back in 2015. In his seven years as the show’s host, Corden has brought many memorable segments to the audience, including Carpool Karaoke, Spill Your Guts, Crosswalk Musical and Drop the Mic.

“It’s something we think about and we talk about a lot but we haven’t really made a decision on that yet. That’s the life side of things which we’ll figure out,” Corden shared. “I love living here. I love everything it’s given. My family and I have never taken this incredible adventure for granted. Every day I drive down Sunset to work and I just think I’m from High Wycombe.”

Though Corden will not be part of the show, he revealed that he will be working on “some other things.”

“I’d like to try and write. There’s some (stories) I’d like to tell. I’d like to see if I’m capable of it. The fact that it’s terrifying is the reason to do it,” he shared.

Corden also revealed that there will be some aspects of the CBS show that he will undoubtedly miss.

“I’ll miss the adrenaline of thinking ‘Next week I’m going to jump out of a plane with Tom Cruise or in two weeks’ time, we’re going to drive around the White House in a car with Michelle Obama or sing Penny Lane with Paul McCartney driving down Penny Lane,” he said. “All of my greatest ambitions for what it what [the show] could be, it’s absolutely surpassed all of them. My intention is to try and go out in exactly the same way we came in, which is just going out with a with a bang.”

Executive producer Ben Winston went on Twitter to share his thoughts as the news broke out.

“The end of an era — but not just yet. Delighted we’ve signed for another year. But it will be our last,” Winston wrote. “The greatest job of our lives is coming to an end. There has been no greater joy than going to work each day with my best mate and the most talented guy in the world.”

CBS President and CEO George Cheeks praised Corden for what his contribution to the show has brought.

“Seven years ago, James Corden came to the U.S. and took television by storm, with huge creative and comedic swings that resonated in a big way with viewers on-air and online,” Cheeks said in a statement. “From Crosswalk the Musical to the legendary Carpool Karaoke, and every unique comedy segment he introduced, James has truly reimagined many elements of the late-night format. He has also been the consummate network showman, entertaining audiences from his nightly perch at Television City as well as the Tony and Grammy stage.”

In a video posted ahead of Thursday’s episode of The Late Late Show, Corden spoke about his departure from the show and how being part of it changed his life.

“I’ve decided to sign on for one more year on the show and that this will be my last year hosting ‘The Late Late Show,'” he said. “When I started this journey, it was always going to be just that. It was going to be a journey, an adventure.”

“But I’ve got to tell you, we are not leaving today. We still have a year to go and we are all determined to make this the best year we have ever had making this show. We are going to go out with a bang. There is going to be Carpools, and Crosswalks and sketches and other surprises,” Corden added. “And there will be tears. There will be so many tears. ‘Cause this has been the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make, it really has. I’ve never taken this job for granted. Ever. Not once. And the fact that you watch us at home. Or you watch us online. Wherever you are, all over the world. The fact that we get to try and entertain you and spend time with you is an absolute privilege for me and every single person who makes this show.”

He ended the message by saying, “Here’s to the next 12 months and it’s going to be a blast, I promise you that.”