As the host of the ‘Late Late Show’, British comedian James Corden is the new king of the late night American chat show, pulling in high ratings and turning weekly segments into viral sensations. But the 37-year-old has revealed it all almost didn't happen, as he turned down an offer to host the show twice.

James CordenJames Corden has revealed he turned down an offer to host the ‘Late Late Show’ twice.

Speaking to Mr Porter Corden said: “I was so convinced it wouldn’t work that we rented all our furniture for a year. I mean, I’ve never hosted a chat show before. I’m not a stand-up. I’m not even a sketch comedian.”

When Corden landed the series he was not only a virtual unknown in the US, he was also the youngest ever host of a late night chat show. Corden was so unrecognisable in America that he said when he first started he had forgotten his pass one lunchtime and the CBS security guard refused to let him back in.

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Corden’s idea was to change the traditional chat show format and make it more accessible for the online generation. It’s an idea that’s worked, with Corden’s ‘Carpool Karaoke’ segments racking up millions of views on Youtube.

“When we started it, everyone said no,” Corden said. “But now there’s a queue. Adele’s one has had more than 64 million views.” Corden had proposed a “fun, youthful show that the internet would respond to,” but even when he got a job offer from CBS he was still reluctant to accept.

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“I was really reticent,” he said. “I said no, and then it went quiet for a few weeks. Then I said no again.” But it was Corden's friend Piers Morgan who urged him to take the gig telling him, “It’s a fierce and unforgiving place, but you’ll regret not trying.”

“I thought, it won’t come round again. In five years’ time they won’t go, ‘Oh, let’s go back to that guy who turned us down,’” Corden said. Corden’s CBS contract has now been extended for five years and he’s finally bought some more permanent furniture. “I did buy a sofa last week. They can still fire me, but I can't leave,” he added.