When I was deciding who would be my person of the month for August, I had NO doubt about who it would be. I was talking to my fellow Magic Radio DJ Tom Price (LOVE him) about James and I just knew I had the right person for my monthly focus. Tom was a cast member of the drama Stella, written by Ruth Jones who starred in Gavin and Stacey alongside James Corden, she’s also Godmother to James’ daughter. It’s a small world after all.
The lovely Tom spoke with me about the Stella family and his role in the drama, and why he believes that the Ruth Jones/James Corden connection is more than special.
My friend James Corden is on FIRE lately, with his American late night television show The Late Late Show soaring in the ratings, the Carpool Karaoke Series deal with Apple Music, and starring in The Emoji Movie. He’s a force of nature.
Here’s his latest in the Carpool Karoake Series from Apple Music…
A little history… if you please.
James Kimberley Corden, OBE (born 22 August 1978) is an English actor, comedian, television host, and singer. He hosts The Late Late Show with James Corden, a late-night television talk show on CBS.
Along with Welsh actress Ruth Jones, Corden co-created, co-wrote and starred in the critically acclaimed BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey (2007–2010) for which he won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Comedy Performance. He was featured on the UK No.1 single “Shout”, along with grime artist Dizzee Rascal, an unofficial anthem of the England football team for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, and duetted with Australian singer Kylie Minogue on a cover of “Only You” in 2015. Appearing on the UK charity telethon Comic Relief in 2011, Corden created his Carpool Karaoke sketch when he drove around London singing songs with George Michael. Since 2009, Corden has presented the Brit Awards ceremony five times, four by himself and once with Matthew Horne and Kylie Minogue. In 2016, he hosted the 70th Tony Awards and the following year hosted the 59th Annual Grammy Awards, replacing long-time host LL Cool J. He has presented the sports-based comedy panel show A League of Their Own on Sky 1 since 2010.
In 2011, he played the lead part in the comedy play One Man, Two Guvnors, which transferred from the National Theatre to the West End and then to Broadway and was also cinecast worldwide via National Theatre Live. For his performance in the Broadway run of the play, Corden won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play. In 2015 he received the BAFTA Britannia Award for British Artist of the Year.
Why we love James Corden.
Maybe it’s his delightful giggle, his acting chops, his humour, his brilliant singing, or his wide-eyed innocence, but Corden just has that certain something that you can’t help but love.
Perhaps it’s his perseverance, because initially NO ONE would do Carpool Karaoke. That is, until Mariah said yes.
“I would be on the phone and we would pitch and pitch. No one would do it,” says Corden. But it’s thanks to Mariah Carey that the segment finally launched. Back in the UK, Corden had done a version of Carpool Karaoke for a charity event where he and George Michael drove around and sang old Wham! songs. Knowing that Carey is a huge fan of George Michael, an associate of Mariah’s finally pitched the idea to her. And she agreed to do it. The first Carpool Karaoke debuted on March 25, 2015.
I could go on and on about James. Listing all his success would take much longer than I have area to type. I could list dozens and dozens of famous artists (as well as First Lady Michelle Obama) who have loved singing with James. But again… it’d be all videos. To put it mildly, the world loves his style and charisma, his humour mixed with genuine excitability. You get the sense that he actually LOVES what he does and puts his whole heart and soul into it.
Updated March 2018
James Corden visited Magic Tower with Daisy Ridley to talk about their new film ‘Peter Rabbit’ and when asked why he loved Magic he said this…
