Corden jets off to US chat show with $1m relocation deal... and look who’s been lined up as his house band!
AS GAVIN & Stacey star James Corden embarks on his quest to conquer America, The Mail on Sunday has learned he will receive a massive $1million ‘relocation fee’ from the CBS producers of his new show The Late Late Show With James Corden.
The fee – about £650,000 – is to cover the cost of moving his young family to Los Angeles.
Corden was due to arrive in LA this weekend, with work on the series starting tomorrow. The first episode will be screened on March 23.
The 36-year-old has hired Ben Winston, who directed the 2011 One Direction movie A Year In The Making, to run the show. He is a close friend of lead singer Harry Styles and is enlisting the boy band to help launch the show.
Corden, who was awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours list, has confessed his appointment is a ‘huge gamble’ for CBS executive Leslie Moonves.
Corden is on a three-year deal and will earn a rumoured £1.5million for the first year, a fraction of the £13million paid to legendary US late-night hosts Jay Leno and David Letterman. Corden’s predecessor, fellow Brit Craig Ferguson, reportedly earned £2.5million.
A CBS source said: ‘James wouldn’t come without his whole family. A million dollars sounds a lot but it’s a standard relocation fee for major talent.’ Corden is believed to have rented a £13,000a-month home in Santa Monica.
A source said: ‘Ben and James are trying to attract big names for the March launch. The idea is for One Direction to be the show’s house band. They know they need to create a splash. James is a virtual unknown in the States but he has more than four million Twitter followers so they are going to drum up attention that way.
‘James is tapping up all his celebrity friends, including David Beckham and Simon Cowell. He’s very nervous but determined to give it his best shot.’
Corden, who was panned by viewers for his narration of New Year BBC special Esio Trot, has joked about his new role, saying: ‘It is ridiculous to be taking over a show like The Late Late Show if you’re me. It makes no sense, let’s be clear. It can only be described as a huge error on behalf of CBS. It’s not easy.’