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James Corden hopes move to U.S. for 'Late Late Show' will be good for his family

"Someone has offered an opportunity to me to be a present dad and a husband," Corden says of taking over as host of the nightly talk show. "You don't always have that luxury in this job."

By Karen Butler
James Corden in a June 2012 UPI file photo.
James Corden in a June 2012 UPI file photo. | License Photo

NEW YORK, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- British actor and comedian James Corden says he didn't take lightly the decision to move his family to Los Angeles so he can become the host of The Late Late Show in March.

Craig Ferguson wrapped up his 10-year stint as the program's emcee last week. Numerous guest hosts will be filling in until Corden permanently takes over.

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Asked about The Late Late Show at a November New York press conference for his new movie musical Into the Woods, the married father of two young children replied: "There was a huge amount of back and forth, and reticence about whether this was [the right move]... The truth is, the pros far outweigh the cons in a situation like that."

"But the cons are deeply profound, which is I love acting. I love it every day. I love writing and I love my career up to this point, and I came to the conclusion that, really, who am I to turn it down? This is an opportunity that doesn't come around again. This is never. ... It's come my way, ridiculously so. I mean, it's going to be a disaster, you understand. It's going to be awful. It's going to be like when you see a car crash on the other side of the freeway. You're going to want to watch it for a little bit and then go: 'Jheez, that was a mistake. I'm glad it wasn't me...'

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It's interesting to talk about it as a life decision. I have a son who is 3 and my daughter is 21 days old, and here is an opportunity and a situation where someone has offered an opportunity to me to be a present dad and a husband -- is the truth -- where I will get to be around my children when they grow up and be around my wife. That's not always the case. You don't always have that luxury in this job. You can be off to New Zealand, or wherever the new tax break in the world is, to shoot something, and sometimes you have to do that.

But, ultimately, I thought, who am I to pass up this opportunity to be able to talk to America every night and maybe just try and make them smile or -- dare I say it -- laugh? Just before, or more likely, during the time when they fall asleep, and I will try my absolute best to provide something that is warm and fun, like our film is."

Into the Woods is now playing in U.S. theaters.

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