James Corden explains why he's really leaving The Late Late Show

James Corden has revealed why he’s leaving The Late Late Show after eight years and flying back across the pond to the UK.

The actor-turned-presenter will host his last show later today (April 27) with guests including Will Ferrell, Tom Cruise and Harry Styles.

In addition to the star-studded show, there's also a special episode of Carpool Karaoke with Grammy award winner Adele.

CBS

In fact, the 'Hello' singer even surprised her best mate by driving him to the CBS studios for the final time.

Both Adele and Corden struggled to hold back the tears as they spoke about their decades-long friendship and the last eight seasons of The Late Late Show.

The musician tearfully told Corden that she’d miss him as she confessed: “You, Jules [wife] and the kids were so integral in looking after me."

"I think I underestimated how many friends I'd made doing it [the show] and it's like a family," Corden said, trying to hold back his emotions as he added: "But I'm just so certain that it's time to go home."

CBS

The Hillingdon-born actor then revealed that he was leaving as he worried about his loved ones back in the UK, who were becoming older and missing out on time with his kids.

Explaining the moment he knew he'd had enough of The Late Late Show, Corden said: "When I was shooting the show Mammals two summers ago, one day I was filming on a Sunday and I came downstairs, it was about 6am and my son, who was ten at the time, was sat on the stairs.

"And he said, 'Are you working today?' And I said, 'I am'. And he said, 'But it's Sunday'.

"And I said, 'I know, buddy, but the schedule is just so all over the place, [I've] just got to get it done because I only have a tiny amount of time before we have to go back and do the [Late Late] show'.

"And his face just kind of dropped. And I got in the car and I called my wife Jules and I said, 'I've realised, best case scenario, we have six more summers where Max even remotely wants to be around us. And I cannot waste another one'."

During this morning’s episode of Lorraine, Corden spoke further about his sudden departure from the US talk show.

CBS

“It's been a real journey and it's so overwhelming and nothing about me looks like I should be hosting a TV show in America which blows my mind,“ he said during the early morning show, as he reflected on the last eight years.

However, Corden insisted that the departure wasn’t ‘a professional decision’, adding that there was ‘a lot to leave and walk away from’ after over 1,000 episodes of the hit talk show.

He continued: “It's not a professional decision, there are people who are getting older in Britain, and we want them to experience spending time together.”

Though it might be an emotional goodbye, the 44-year-old has promised an incredible final show with Top Gun and Mission Impossible actor Tom Cruise joining in on the celebrations.

“Tom Cruise was adamant to come and film something and his thing is very big,” the Gavin & Stacey star revealed, telling viewers: “8 years ago Tom Cruise was just an amazing superhero to me and now he's on the show.”